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Norwich
is located at the convergence of the Thames, Shetucket, and Yantic
Rivers about 25 minutes north of New London.
The city, founded in 1660, has a
rich
Colonial history.
The photo at left shows the Thames as it flows towards downtown
Norwich.
City of Norwich web site |
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17th Century Colonial
Life Centered around the Green,
an open space bordered by buildings.
Norwichtown Green Markers commemorate the original settlement |
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On June 6th, 1659
Uncus, Chief of the Mohegan Tribe and other Indians, sold 9 square miles
of land to settlers for 70 pounds.
The area became known as
Norwich Plantation as shown in these
early colonial documents.
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Text from
Marker |
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Houses and church
along Norwichtown Green.
Norwichtown is the present day name
for the area of the original settlement. Many colonial buildings
still remain. |
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John Mason, Puritan, Co-Founder of
Norwich 1660 |
The early life of John Mason in England (born circa 1600-1001) is obscure. A
puritan, he served as an officer under
Sir Thomas Fairfax in the Netherlands against Spain. He made the 63
day passage to the Massachusetts Bay Colony with Reverend Wareham's party in
1630. One of the few experienced military men, he was elected captain at
Dorchester, and eventually helped found Windsor, CT., where the Connecticut
River Indians had invited settlement.
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In 1636 the first Pequot war began in New England, between Indians and the
English. The colony had but a few hundred English inhabitants. Mason
commanded a contingent of 90 solders, and with the principal aid of Uncus
and the Mohegans, he defeated the powerful Pequot nation in 1637.
Disobeying orders, he made strategic decisions on his own, which helped gain
victory over a more numerous enemy. He lost 2 dead and 20 wounded.
Mason said of Uncus... "He was a great friend and did great service." |
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Major
Mason was the chief military officer in the colony for 35 years.
He was magistrate and major at Windsor for 8 years. He married his
second wife, Anne Peck, after the death of his first wife, and had
altogether 8 children. A son John Jr., was mortally wounded in
King Phillip's war (another English/Indian struggle) in 1675. For
the next 12 years he was placed in charge of a fort in Saybrook. In 1660
with his son-in-law, the Rev. James Fitch, he founded Norwich.
During the first 8 years he was made deputy governor and for two years
was acting governor while Gov. Winthrop was in England seeking
Connecticut's charter from King Charles. He died January 30,
1672. |
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Marker
courtesy of a grant by the Gernon Trust |
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Vintage postcards of
Indian Leap,
Broadway,
town hall, and the
can
be seen on the
GenWeb site.
Rose City Genealogy Club
A brief history of Norwich
Norwich Heritage Trust
Diocese of Norwich
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The Mohegan Tribe Royal Burial Ground is
located in Norwich. Read a brief history of the Mohegan tribe and their
Shantok Burial and Festival grounds located in nearby Montville at
the
National Park Service
website. Present day Mohegans own and operate the
Mohegan Sun Casino
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Links |
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