Connecticut,
United States (Indian Quonecktacut—
i. e.,
Long River, or River of Pines), one of the six
New England and of the thirteen original States, lies between lat. 41° and 42° 3′ N. and long.
71° 55′ and 73° 50′
W. Massachusetts lies on the north,
Rhode Island on the east,
Long Island Sound on the south, and New York on the west.
The southwest corner projects along the sound, south of the
State of New York, for about 13 miles. Area, 4,990 square miles, in eight counties; population, 1890, 746,258; 1900, 908,420.
Capital,
Hartford.
Adrian Block, a Dutch navigator, first explores the
Connecticut River as far as
Hartford......1614
Robert,
Earl of
Warwick, president of the council of Plymouth, grants to Lord Say and Seal and eleven others, among them
John Hampden and
John Pym, all that part of
New England which lies west from the Narraganset River, 120 miles on the coast, and thence in latitude and breadth aforesaid to the
Pacific Ocean......March 19, 1631
[The council of Plymouth the previous year had granted the whole tract to the
Earl of
Warwick, and the grant had been confirmed to him by a patent from King Charles I.]
Wahquimacut, a sachem from the
Connecticut River, visits
Plymouth and
Boston, asking colonial governors to send settlers to that river......1631
[
Governor Winthrop, of
Massachusetts, does not favor the movement.]
John Oldham, from
Dorchester, Mass., and three others visit the
Connecticut......September, 1633
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286]
William Holmes, of
Plymouth, prepares the frame of a house with a board covering, places it on a vessel, and sails for the
Connecticut River; passes a small
Dutch fort, “The
House of good hope,” at
Hartford, and, landing on the west bank, erects the first English house in
Connecticut (now
Windsor) October, 1633
Dutch at New Netherlands, with seventy men, make a feeble attempt to drive the settlers away......1634
Rev. Thomas Hooker, of
Newtown (now
Cambridge),
Mass., advocates new settlements on the
Connecticut River 1634
About sixty men, women, and children, with horses, cattle, and swine, start through the wilderness from near
Boston to the
Connecticut River......Oct. 15, 1635
They reach the river about the middle of......November, 1635
Colonists from
Massachusetts, led by
John Winthrop, son of
Governor Winthrop, fortify the mouth of the
Connecticut, and call the fort Say-Brook, in honor of Lords Say and Brook......Nov. 9, 1635
A Dutch vessel appears off the mouth, but is not suffered to land......November, 1635
Great suffering at
Windsor, on the
Connecticut, during the winter of......1635-36
First court in
Connecticut held at
Newtown (
Hartford)......April 26, 1636
Rev. Thomas Hooker, “the light of the
Western churches,” and
Rev. Mr. Stone, with 100 men, women, and children, and 160 head of cattle, leave
Cambridge, Mass., for the
Connecticut River through the wilderness......June, 1636
They reach the river early in......July, 1636
John Oldham murdered by the Indians near
Block Island......July, 1636
War with the Pequods......July, 1636
[The
Pequods, with at least 700 warriors, then occupied
eastern Connecticut, and ruled part of
Long Island.]
An expedition against the Pequods and Indians on
Block Island is sent from
Massachusetts under
John Endicott......Aug. 25–Sept. 14, 1630
[It exasperated, but did not subdue, the Indians.]
Roger Williams, of
Rhode Island, prevents a league between the Pequods and Narragansets......1636
Fort at
Saybrook, at the mouth of the
Connecticut, beleaguered by the Pequods all the winter of......1636-37
About thirty colonists of
Connecticut killed by the Pequods during the winter of......1636-37
Court at
Newtown (
Hartford) applies to
Massachusetts for aid against the Pequods......Feb. 21, 1637
[The name
Newtown is changed to
Hartford,
Watertown to
Wethersfield, and
Dorchester to
Windsor by this court.
Hartford was so named in horor of
the Rev. Mr. Stone, who was born at
Hartford, England.]
Wethersfield attacked by the Pequods, several killed......April, 1637
The court at
Hartford, bent on offensive war against the Pequods, call for eightyeight men—forty-two from
Hartford, thirty from
Windsor, sixteen from
Wethersfield......May 1, 1637
These are joined by
Uncas, sachem of the Mohegans, with seventy warriors, at Say-Brook fort......May 15, 1637
Capt. John Mason, of
Windsor, commanding the expedition, sails from Fort Say-Brook for Narraganset Bay, to surprise the
Pequod fort......May 19, 1637
At Narraganset Bay about 200 Narraganset warriors join him. He approaches the
Pequod fort on the evening of May 25, and next morning, at early light, he attacks and completely destroys it, together with about 600
Indians, men, women, and children, losing two killed and about twenty wounded......May 26, 1637
Court of Connecticut calls for forty more men for the war against the Pequods......June 26, 1637
Pequods attempt to escape into the wilderness westward.
Captain Stoughton, with a Massachusetts company, pursues along
Long Island Sound.
With
Sassacus, their sachem, the Pequods take shelter in a swamp near
Fairfield, and after another severe fight surrender, but their sachem and a few followers escape......July 13, 1637
[These fled to the Mohawks, who treacherously murdered them.
The prisoners were sold into slavery or incorporated with other tribes.
“There remained not a sannup nor a squaw, not a warrior nor a child.” ] the
Hector lands at
Boston Rev. John
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287]
Davenport,
Theophilus Eaton, and
Edward Hopkins......July 26, 1637
Mr. Eaton and others explore the lands and harbors of
Connecticut on the seacoast, and select Quinipiack (now New Haven) for a settlement in the autumn of......1637
Rev. John Davenport,
Mr. Eaton, and others sail from
Boston and arrive at Quinipiack about the middle of......April, 1638
Gloomy prospects of the colonists.
Great earthquake......June 1, 1638
Colonists purchase land in and about New Haven of the Indians......Nov. 24, 1638
All free planters convene at
Hartford and frame a constitution for civil government......Jan. 14, 1639
First constitution of
Connecticut adopted at
Hartford......April, 1639
General election held at
Hartford......April, 1639
[
John Haynes chosen governor.]
General election held at Quinipiack (New Haven)......Oct. 25, 1639
[
Theophilus Eaton chosen governor.]
Milford and
Guildford purchased of the Indians and settled......1639
[Laws founded upon and administered according to the Scriptures.]
Settlement made at
Saybrook by
George Fenwick......1639
Fourteen capital laws of
Connecticut enacted, founded on passages of Scripture......April 2, 1642
Boundary-line between
Connecticut and
Massachusetts first run by
Woodward and Saffrey......1642
Colonies of
Massachusetts Bay,
Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven confederate under the name of the United Colonies of
New England......May 19, 1643
Connecticut purchases of
Col. George Fenwick the old
Connecticut patent for £1,600, and assumes jurisdiction over the whole territory......1644
New London settled......1648
Governors and magistrates receive no salaries in
Connecticut up to......1648
[Then the governor's salary was fixed at £ 30.]
Governor Stuyvesant, of the New Netherlands, visits
Hartford to settle certain boundary questions with the
New England United Colonies......Sept. 11, 1650
Norwalk settled......1651
Middletown settled......1651
French agents from
Quebec visit the
Connecticut colonists, asking aid against the five nations of New York (the
Iroquois)......1651
Alarm and distress of the colonists owing to trouble with the
Dutch......1653
Commissioners are for war, but
Massachusetts refuses assistance......1653
They address Parliament and
Cromwell for aid......1653
Colony, ordered by Parliament to treat the
Dutch as enemies, seize the
Dutch house and lands at
Hartford......1654
Death of
Governor Haynes......1654
Law against Quakers: to be fined and sent out of jurisdiction......October, 1656
Gov. John Winthrop obtains for
Connecticut a charter, with ample privileges, from Charles II......April 20, 1662
Charles II.
grants a patent to his brother, the
Duke of
York, of extensive tracts, including the west side of
Connecticut River......March 12, 1664
Col. Richard Nichols, governor of New York, and commissioners from
Connecticut, fix the western boundary of
Connecticut, beginning on the east side of Mamaroneck Creek and thence northnorthwest to the
Massachusetts line.
The southern line was determined to be the
Sound,
Connecticut losing her possessions on
Long Island......Nov. 30, 1664
United colony elects
John Winthrop governor......1665
Lyme made a town......May, 1667
Haddam made a town......October, 1668
Major Andros, the new governor of New York, claims under the
Duke of
York all land west of the
Connecticut River......1675
Major Andros appears before the fort at
Saybrook with an armed force and demands its surrender......July 11, 1675
[It is refused by
Captain Bull, and the patent and commission forbidden to be read.]
War with Philip, sachem of the Wampanoags......1675
Connecticut furnishes 315 men in the fight at Narraganset fort......Dec. 19, 1675
Death of
Gov. John Winthrop......April 5, 1676
Boundary between
Connecticut and New York of 1664 superseded by that of......1683
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288]
Sir Edmund Andros, the royal governor, comes to
Hartford and demands the charter in the name of King James II......Oct. 31, 1687
[After a long discussion in the assembly, early in the evening the lights are extinguished, and the charter is taken from the table and secreted by
Capt. Willliam Wadsworth, of
Hartford, in a hollow oak-tree, known since as the “charter oak,” on the estate of the Wyllyses, across the river.]
Sir Edmund Andros assumes the governments, selects councillors, seizes the records of the colony, and rules arbitrarily......Oct. 31, 1687
Overthrow of
Sir Edmund Andros's government at
Boston on hearing of the revolution in
England and flight of James II......April 18, 1689
Charter recovered and free government restored in
Connecticut......May 9, 1689
William and Mary proclaimed at
Hartford with great ceremony and joy......June 13, 1689
Colonel Benjamin Fletcher, governor of New York, comes to
Hartford while the Assembly is in session and demands command of the militia under commission from the
King......Oct. 26, 1693
[The Assembly refusing, he orders the militia under arms, and attempts to read his commission to them and assume command.
Captain Wadsworth prevents this by ordering the drums to beat, threatening death to the governor if he persists.]
Charter ratified by William III.......April, 1694
Boundary of 1683 between New York and
Connecticut confirmed by William III.......1700
Charter for a college at New Haven (Yale) granted by the General Court......Oct. 9, 1701
First issue of bills of credit by
Connecticut, £ 8,000 for an anticipated expedition against
Canada......1709
First printer in the colony, Thomas Short, from
Boston, at New London......1709
He publishes the
Saybrook platform of Church discipline......1710
Settlement of the boundary with
Massachusetts......1713
[
Massachusetts grants to
Connecticut 107,793 acres, the amount that
Massachusetts had encroached upon
Connecticut.
The tract was sold by
Connecticut in 1716 for about $2,274; given to Yale College. Boundary run as it now is, 1826, leaving indentation to
Massachusetts about 2 miles square, as compensation for towns previously lost.]
First State-house built at
Hartford......1720
Gurdon Saltonstall, governor for sixteen years, dies......Sept. 20, 1724
Final boundary established with
Rhode Island......1728
Joint survey made between New York and
Connecticut......1731
Connecticut furnishes 1,000 men for land and marine service against
Louisburg......1745
First silk coat and stockings of
New England production were worn by Governor Law, of
Connecticut......1747
Phineas Lyman,
major-general of the
Connecticut forces, second in command at the
battle of Lake George......Sept. 6, 1755
[
Sir William Johnson being disabled,
General Lyman conducted the engagement successfully to
Dieskau's defeat.]
Citizens of
Connecticut known as the Susquehanna Company purchase from the Six Nations land 70 miles in length on the
Susquehanna River, and extending from 10 miles east of that river west 140 miles, for about $10,000, July 11, 1754.
It includes the
Wyoming Valley, where they make a settlement......1763
[This leads to a long controversy between
Connecticut and
Pennsylvania.]
Connecticut Courant, published by
Thomas Green, at
Hartford, first issued......Oct. 26, 1764
Jared Ingersoll sent by
Connecticut to
England to oppose the Stamp Act......1764
He accepts the position of stamp-master, and is compelled by the citizens to resign......Sept. 19, 1765
Gov. Thomas Fitch consents to take the oath for the support of the Stamp Act......1766 [He is dismissed at the next election.]
Connecticut Journal first published at New Haven......1767
Jonathan Trumbull elected governor......1769
[The only colonial governor who favored independence in 1776.
He was elected
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289]
governor annually until 1784.
The name “Brother Jonathan,” humorously bestowed upon him by
General Washington, has been applied to the
United States.]
Eliphalet Dyer,
Roger Sherman, and Silas Deane elected at
Norwich to the first Continental Congress......June 6, 1774
Israel Putnam, of
Pomfret, Conn., hastens to
Boston on hearing of the
battle of Lexington; arrives......April 21, 1775
[Riding on one horse 100 miles in eighteen hours.]
Col. Samuel H. Parsons and
Benedict Arnold, at
Hartford, plan the capture of
Ticonderoga......April 27, 1775
Benedict Arnold marches from New Haven with his company and reaches
Boston......April 29, 1775
Surrender of
Ticonderoga to
Col. Ethan Allen and
Benedict Arnold......May 10, 1775
General Assembly authorize bills of credit to $500,000 to equip eight regiments......May 11, 1775
Ex-Governor Tryon, with 2,000 men, destroys
Danbury......April 26, 1777
[
Gen. David Wooster, of
Connecticut, is mortally wounded.]
General Tryon lands at New Haven with about 3,000 men and plunders it......July 5, 1778
Fairfield, Green's Farm, and
Norwalk burned......1778
General Tryon, from
Kingsbridge, N. Y., with 1,500 troops, destroys the salt-works at
Horseneck, Conn.
Here
General Putnam is said to have ridden down a declivity in escaping......March 26, 1779
Benedict Arnold plunders and burns New London......Sept. 6, 1781
[
Fort Griswold across the river is captured the same day, and out of a garrison of 150 men seventy-three are killed, including their commander,
Colonel Ledyard, and thirty wounded, mostly after the surrender.
Connecticut furnished during the Revolution 31,959 troops, only
Massachusetts furnishing more.]
Samuel Seabury, D. D., seeks in
England consecration as bishop of
Connecticut; being refused, he is consecrated by three bishops of the Episcopal Church in
Scotland......Nov. 14, 1784
Connecticut frees her slaves......1784
Connecticut makes a qualified cession to the
United States of all territory south of lat. 41° N. and west of a line 120 miles west of
Pennsylvania......Sept. 14, 1786
[The space left to
Connecticut in
Ohio is known as the
Western Reserve, and is claimed as a compensation for the territory relinquished in
Pennsylvania.]
Constitution of the United States ratified by
Connecticut; vote 128 to 40......Jan. 9, 1788
Wooden clocks first made at
Waterbury......1790
Gen. Israel Putnam dies at
Brookline,
Conn.......May 19, 1790
Connecticut bestows upon citizens, especially those of
Danbury,
Fairfield,
Groton, New London, and
Norwalk, who had suffered during the Revolution, half a million acres at the west end of the
Western Reserve in
Ohio, hence known as “Fire lands” ......1792
Connecticut sells to the Connecticut Land Company, of 320 citizens, 3,200,000 acres, the remainder of the tract between
Lake Erie and lat. 41° N..1795
[The price, $1,200,000, was made a State school fund.]
Connecticut through
Governor Trumbull, executes surrender to the
United States of jurisdiction over the
Western Reserve, Ohio......May 30, 1800
Connecticut opposed to war of......1812
New London blockaded by
Sir Thomas Hardy with British ships for twenty months......June, 1813
Stonington bombarded by
Sir Thomas Hardy's fleet......Aug. 9-12, 1814
Delegates from the several
New England legislatures meet in convention at
Hartford to consider the grievances caused by the war, and to devise measures for its termination......Dec. 15, 1814
Connecticut adopts a State constitution in place of the royal charter, by a vote of 13,918 to 12,361......Oct. 5, 1818
Washington College (Episcopal) chartered at
Hartford......1823
[Name changed to
Trinity, 1845.]
Wesleyan University at
Middletown (Methodist) chartered......1831
Prudence
Crandall opens a school for colored children at
Canterbury......1833
[She is arrested and sent to jail.
On failure to convict her the school-house is sacked by a mob and the inmates expelled.]
Ship
Amistad, Spanish, brought into
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290]
New London by
Lieutenant Geding, of the
United States brig
Washington......Aug. 29, 1839
John W. Niles appointed postmastergeneral in
Van Buren's cabinet......May 25, 1840
Amendment to article VIII.
of the
State constitution abolishing freehold qualification for electors, etc., ratified......October, 1845
State Teachers' Association organized......April 7, 1846
Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University opened......1847
Act passed for registering births, marriages, and deaths......1848
Isaac Toucey appointed attorney-general......June 21, 1848
Samuel Colt begins the manufacture of revolvers at
Hartford......1852
Samuel D. Hubbard appointed postmaster-general......Aug. 31, 1852
Legislature establishes the Supreme Court of Errors and the Superior Court, and abolishes the county courts......May, 1855
Amendment to State constitution ratified, making ability to read the constitution a qualification for electors......October, 1855
Act abolishing school societies and putting the support of schools upon towns, who are to elect a board of school visitors of three, six, or nine members......July 1, 1856
Charter Oak at
Hartford blown down......Aug. 21, 1856
State constitution amended by vote of 7,290 to 6,062, so that judges of the Supreme Court of Errors and Superior Court shall sit eight years, but may be removed by impeachment......October, 1856
Isaac Toucey appointed
Secretary of the Navy......March 6, 1857
Governor Buckingham issues a proclamation ordering the purchase of equipments for an army of 5,000 men, and urging militia companies to fill their ranks......Jan. 17, 1861
Gideon Welles appointed
Secretary of the Navy......March 5, 1861
First infantry, 780 three-months' men, leaves New Haven for
Washington, under
Col. Daniel Tyler......May 9, 1861
First regiment enlisted for three years, the 4th Connecticut Infantry, leaves
Hartford under
Col. Levi Woodhouse......June 10, 1861
Brig.-Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, born in
Ashford, July 14, 1819; killed in battle of
Wilson's Creek, Mo.......Aug. 10, 1861
Gen. Joseph K. F. Mansfield, born in New Haven, Dec. 22, 1803; killed in
battle of Antietam......Sept. 17, 1862
Rear-Admiral Andrew Hull Foote, born in New Haven, Sept. 12, 1806; dies at New York City......June 26, 1863
Maj.-Gen. John Sedgwick, born in
Cornwall, Sept. 13, 1813; killed in
battle of Spottsylvania......May 9, 1864
Fifty thousand six hundred and twenty-three three-years' troops furnished during the war......1861-65
State board of fish commissioners created......1865
State board of education organized, with
Daniel C. Gilman as secretary......1865
Lydia Sigourney, poet, dies at
Hartford......June 10, 1865
Legislature which convened at
Hartford, May 3, adjourns after the longest session on record up to date......July 21, 1865
An exciting election for governor;
President Johnson's influence favoring
James E. English;
Joseph R. Hawley, Republican, elected by only 541 majority......April, 1866
Legislature ratifies the Fourteenth Amendment to the
Constitution......June 30, 1866
Legislature ratifies the Fifteenth Amendment to the
Constitution......March 16, 1869
Election for governor being close, a joint committee of the General Assembly, appointed to examine returns May 3, report total vote 94,860; for
Marshall Jewell, Republican, 47,473; for
James E. English, Democrat, 47,373; scattering, 14; declare
Jewell elected......May 10, 1871
Governor Jewell assumes office......May 16, 1871
Noah Porter elected president of Yale University in place of
Theodore D. Woolsey, resigned......1871
Temperance party, represented by about 100 delegates, meets at New Haven and nominates a full State ticket......Dec. 13, 1871
Labor-reform party holds a State convention
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291]
at
Bridgeport and nominates a State ticket......Jan. 3, 1872
Jesse Olney, geographer, born in 1798, dies at
Stratford......July 30, 1872
State constitution amended; all sessions of the General Assembly, from May, 1875, to be held at
Hartford......Oct. 7, 1873
Ex-Gov. and
United States Senator W. A. Buckingham dies at
Norwich......Feb. 4, 1875
State constitution amended: Tuesday after first Monday in November made general election day; Wednesday after first Monday in January the day of meeting of General Assembly......Oct. 2, 1875
Orris S. Ferry,
United States Senator from
Connecticut, dies at
Norwalk......Nov. 21, 1875
“Greenback men” meet in convention at New Haven......Feb. 22, 1876
William H. Barnum, Democrat, elected to fill the unexpired term of
United States Senator Ferry, deceased......May 17, 1876
Agricultural experiment station established by law......1877
Gideon Welles,
ex-Secretary of Navy, dies at
Hartford......Feb. 11, 1878
Act passed for State Board of Health of six members......March 13, 1878
Legislature occupies the new capitol for the first time......March 26, 1878
There being no choice for State officers, November, 1878, the legislature elects
Charles B. Andrews governor......Jan. 9, 1879
Boundary dispute between New York and
Connecticut, begun in 1856, is settled, the southern boundary being fixed through the middle of
Long Island Sound; the “oblong tract,” 4.68 square miles in area, lying 20 miles east of the
North River, goes to New York......1880
Board of Pardons, consisting of the governor, a judge of the Supreme Court of Errors, and four persons appointed by the General Assembly, who must all concur in a pardon, is created by legislature......Jan. 3–May 3, 1883
Bronze memorial statue of
William A. Buckingham,
Connecticut's war governor, is unveiled in
Hartford......June 18, 1884
State constitution amended; biennial legislative sessions to begin in 1887; ratified by 30,520 to 16,380......Oct. 6, 1884
President Noah Porter, of Yale University, resigns......1886
Republican candidates for State officers elected by the legislature, there being no choice in State election of Nov. 2, 1886......January, 1887
First text-book ever published by the
State, a small treatise on the effect of alcohol on the human system, is issued and distributed to the schools......September, 1887
Equestrian statue of
Gen. Israel Putnam erected at
Brooklyn, Windham county, and unveiled......Jan. 14, 1888
First Monday in September designated a public holiday (Labor Day), a State normal school established at
Willimantic, and an “anti-screen” saloon law and modified Australian ballot law passed by legislature in session......Jan. 9–June 22, 1889
Alfred H. Terry,
major-general, United States army, born 1827, dies at New Haven......Dec. 16, 1890
Deadlock between the two houses of the legislature on the governorship......Jan. 7, 1891
Democratic candidates for State offices sworn in by the Senate, refused possession by Republican incumbents......Jan. 13, 1891
Governor Bulkeley by proclamation warns the citizens against recognizing the
Democratic State officers......Jan. 19, 1891
P. T. Barnum, born 1810, dies at
Bridgeport......April 7, 1891
Superior Court decides in favor of
Governor Bulkeley......June 24, 1891
Both claimants to governorship agree to take the matter into the
State Supreme Court......Oct. 1, 1891
Ex-Gov. Hobart B. Bigelow dies at New Haven......Oct. 12, 1891
In the suit of
Morris, Democrat, v.
Bulkeley, Republican, the Supreme Court holds
Bulkeley to be governor......Jan. 5, 1892
Daniel Grant, one of the famous triplets of
Torrington, dies, aged seventy-one years, his two brothers surviving......Oct. 5, 1892
Celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of
Stamford......Oct. 16, 1892
Governor Morris recommends constitutional revision......March, 1893
Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of
Uncle Tom's cabin, dies at
Hartford......July 1, 1896
President Dwight, of Yale, resigns his office......Nov. 17, 1898
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292]
Arthur T. Hadley elected president of Yale University......May 25, 1899
Sons of the Revolution of New York present the
Nathan Hale school-house and grounds to
East Haddam......June 6, 1900
Camp Field and a soldiers' monument at
Hartford dedicated......Oct. 4, 1900
The following anniversaries were observed in 1900:
East Haddam, bicentennial;
Middletown, 250th year;
Bridgeport, centennial;
Trinity Parish,
Fairfield, 175th year.
Yale bicentennial at New Haven......Oct. 20-23, 1901
Delaware