The Dutch in New Netherlands Colony become close trading partners with the Pequot and their tributaries. The Dutch and Pequot had maintained an exclusive trading relationship in which they exchanged European goods (trade cloth, metal tools, firearms) for wampum and furs.
The Pequot expand their political and military influence throughout Long Island Sound. Numerous Native groups in Southern New England and Long Island become tributary to the Pequot. This included the Mohegan, Podunk, Poquonnock, Tunxis, Quinnipiac.
The Dutch negotiate a treaty to settle on the Connecticut River with the Pequot. Dutch construct the Huys de Hoop (Fort Hope) fortified trading post at Suckiaug just south of the Farmington River.
English bypass Dutch at Good Hope and establish a fortified trading post at Windsor at the mouth of the Farmington River.
Dutch - Pequot War is fought in the Connecticut River Valley. Pequot and Narragansett battle periodically during this time.
Captain John Stone, Captain Norton, and several crew members were killed by Natives. It was later said that the killers were tributaries of the Pequot and at least one attacker was the son of the slain Pequot Sachem Tatobam.
Small Pox Epidemic spreads through upper New England and effects the Narragansett and possibly the Pequot.
English establish a settlement at Wethersfield (south of the Dutch) on the Connecticut River.
Pequot envoys sent to Boston to open diplomatic relations with the English. Pequot seek friendship and trade alliance. The English asked for more senior negotiators.
Pequot Ambassadors return to Boston to discuss an alliance. The English agreed to peace if: 1) The Pequot delivered the killers of Captain John Stone. 2) The Pequot surrendered their right to the Connecticut River. The Pequot gave gifts of wampum, beaver, and otter in return for the English negotiating a peace with the Narragansett.
John Winthrop, Jr. receives a commission from the Saybrook Company to be Governor of Connecticut.
Workmen sent by Winthrop, Jr. continue to clear land and build basic structures. Lieutenant Lion Gardiner took over engineering of the fort in March 1636 and completed fortifications around May.
The English from the Saybrook Company take possession of the mouth of the Connecticut River at Pasbeshauke. Soon after construction of Saybrook Fort begins.
John Winthrop, Jr. and Lt. Lion Gardiner arrive at Saybrook Point to oversee the settlement. Gardiner remains to oversee the forts construction.
Massachusetts Bay officials return gifts given by the Pequot in the Winter of 1634.
Warehouses are built by individuals from the Connecticut River towns at Warehouse Point, just north of Saybrook Fort.
The English under Reverend Thomas Hooker establish Hartford (originally named Newtown) within sight of the Dutch fort.
Mohegan Sachem Uncas sends intelligence, or rumors, of an aborted Pequot attack on a Plimoth vessel. Uncas also blames the death of a shipwrecked Englishmen on Long Island, on the Pequot.
Captain John Oldham of Wethersfield is killed by Block Island inhabitants. The murder is discovered by Captain John Gallop
Massachusetts Bay launches a punitive expedition against the inhabitants of Block island. The attack fore led by Captain John Endicott consisted of ninety men, four officers, and two Natives. August 25 - 26 was spent invading and ranging Block Island. Endicott's force sailed to Saybrook Fort and remained anchored there between August 26-29. On August 29 a small group of soldiers commanded by Captain Endicott and Underhill sailed to confront the Pequot sachem Sassacus at the Pequot River, but he was on Long Island. After several hours of failed negotiations English forces attacked and destroyed villages on both sides on the river. This act sparked the Pequot War.
Pequot attack Saybrook garrison stationed at Cornfield Point. Three English wounded, one escaped and captured.
The Pequot War (1636-1637) began immediately after Massachusetts Bay attacked the villages on the Pequot (Thames) River.
Pequot unsuccessfully attempt to enter an alliance with the Narragansett.
English are attacked while gathering hay near Six Mile Island. Two English are wounded, one is captured and killed.
The English and Narragansett enter a formal peace treaty and alliance.
Pequot and Western Niantic resolve to fight as one against English forces.
Pequot ambush Lt. Gardiner and nine soldiers on Saybrook Neck. Three English soldiers were killed, three others were wounded, and two others deserted. Surviving English forces fought their way back to the protection of Saybrook Fort.
Pequot advance on Saybrook Fort and Parlet with Lt. Gardiner. Several hundred Pequot approach Saybrook Fort. Gardiner and Thomas Stanton speak with Pequot emissaries. After the meeting the fort's cannon fire in the direction of the Pequot but no combat occurs.
The Connecticut River towns send Captain John Mason and six men to reinforce Saybrook Fort.
Massachusetts Bay send Captain John Underhill and twenty soldiers to reinforce Saybrook Fort.
Massachusetts Bay officials pressure Plimoth Colony to join the war against the Pequot. The Plimoth Colony resists.
The Pequot attack Wethersfield. Nine English settlers are killed in the Great Meadow while at work. Two girls are taken captive.
Lt. Gardiner orders the fort's cannon to fire on pequot war canoes passing before the fort. The nose of the canoe carrying the captured girls is hit by the shot but everyone onboard survives.
Connecticut orders "Offensive War" against the Pequot. The court at Hartford orders that 90 men be raised from the three Connecticut River towns for a campaign against the Pequot. The towns mobilize and the English garner support from the Connecticut River Indian groups along with Uncas and his Mohegan followers.
Roger Williams provides a map of Pequot country to Governor Vane of Massachusetts Bay based on Narragansett intelligence.
English Allied forces leave Hartford for Saybrook Fort. The three ships become wind bound and much of the Native allies disembark and march south to the fort.
Massachusetts Bay Colony seeks military assistance from Plimoth Colony in the war against the Pequot.
Narragansett send reports of Pequots fishing and planting around Long Island Sound. Miantaonomi marches to Boston and offers a plan of attack with would combine English sea power with Narragansett warriors in order to attack the Pequot along different points on the sound.
English native allies under Uncas arrive at Saybrook Fort. Lt. Gardiner not trusting the Natives orders them to prove their loyalty by attacking a company of Pequot located on the eastern side of the Connecticut River. The English Allies Native force attacks the Pequot the next day killing five and capturing Kiswas, a Pequot who has once lived at the fort prior to the war. One English-allies Suckiaung Indian was wounded in the fighting.
Massachusetts Bay prepares an army for the war against the Pequot.
English Allied Forces set sail from Saybrook Fort for Narragansett Bay. They remain in sight of shore to deceive the Pequot into believing that they are leaving. The English ships arrive at Narragansett Bay Saturday evening. Captain Mason and a small group meet with Narragansett Sachem Canonicous.
English Allied forces march to an Eastern Niantic fort near the Pequot frontier. English forces surround the fort so word of their presence does not reach the Pequot. Massachusetts Bay reinforcements under Captain Patrick arrived at Providence too late to join Mason's men. Miantonomi and around 300 Narragansett forces meet Captain Mason to join the campaign.
English Allied forces cross the Pawcatuck River and march to the head of the Mystic River where they encamped at a prominent rock feature known as “Porter’s Rocks.” The combined English Allied force now consisted of 77 English, around 100 Mohegans and River Indians, and around 300 Narragansett and Niantics.
At dawn English Allied forces surround the Pequot fortified village at Mistick. English soldiers form the surround the fort while Native allies form a second line beyond them. Two companies commanded by Captain Mason and Captain Underhill split off to storm both entrances. Mason’s company of 22 men is the first to enter through an northeast entrance. After catching the Pequot off guard the approximately 150 warriors inside the fort organize an effective defense. His company suffers nearly 50% casualties in approximately 15-20 minutes of combat. As a result, Mason orders his men to set fire to the fort’s weetu’s. He then orders his men to evacuate. Underhill’s company having a long distance to traverse arrives at the southwest entrance and storms the fort to find it already on fire. As the majority of Pequot warriors were now concentrated to the southern half of the fort Underhill’s entrance was highly contested and his company of also suffered nearly 50% casualties in around 10 minutes or less. Underhill also orders his men to set fire to the weetu’s within the fort and evacuates his men to the outside. English forces concentrate towards the southwest entrance while high winds drive the fire in that direction as well. Pequot warriors fought from within the forts palisade wall until the fire was too intense and then made one last desperate charge followed by non-combatants. English forces indiscriminately killed all fleeing Natives and accidently wounded allied Natives as well. Over a dozen fleeing Pequot were captured by English Allied Native forces. When the battle was over the English suffered two dead and twenty wounded while their Native allies had taken and undetermined amount of casualties. With the exception of the few captured Pequot the defenders and inhabitants of the fort had died during the assault. English Allied forces hold Pequot Hill for several hours and fight off three separate Pequot counterattacks until they see their ships in Long Island Sound. Mason gives the order to march west to rendezvous with the ships at Pequot (Thames) Harbor. As they prepare to march the main body of Pequot Warriors arrive from the primary fortified village at Wienshauks, some 300-400 strong. For the rest of the day Pequot forces launch a series of coordinated ambushes, counterattacks, and feints in an attempt to destroy the English Allied forces. After four miles of combat the fighting ceased and the English Allies were able to successfully reach their ship. It is unclear how many casualties they suffered in the march but it appears that the Pequot lost another 100 to 200 fighting men killed and wounded in the battle.
English Allied Forces march west through Western Niantic lands on their way to the Connecticut River. They arrive there that evening and are ferried across the river to Saybrook Fort the next day.
Long Island Sachem Wyandanch visits Saybrook Fort Knows of the destruction of Mistick Fort. Negotiates with Lt. Gardiner and loosely allies with the English.
equot leadership agrees to vacate their homeland. Sassacus and around eight followers go west toward the Hudson River. One hundred leave for Long Island. Around seventy surrender to the Narragansett. An unknown number of warriors went north to join with allied Nipmuc groups.
Plimoth Colony declares war on the Pequot and recruit a fifty-man company.
Three English killed and their shallop destroyed by Pequot forces around Six Mile Island. One body floated down river and was recovered at Saybrook Fort. The other two were found hanging from trees near the shoreline at the site of the attack.
Massachusetts Bay Captain Daniel Patrick, stationed at Saybrook Fort, captured two canoes of a number of canoes which the Pequot floated up the Connecticut River with goods needed during their western march to the Hudson River.
We'd love to hear from you. Please send questions or feedback to the below email addresses.
Before contacting us, you may wish to visit our FAQs page which has lots of useful info on Tiki-Toki.
We can be contacted by email at: hello@tiki-toki.com.
You can also follow us on twitter at twitter.com/tiki_toki.
If you are having any problems with Tiki-Toki, please contact us as at: help@tiki-toki.com
Close