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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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Colonial
Life Centered around the Green, an open space
bordered by buildings. Norwich 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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Benedict
Arnold, the one time patriot and ally of George Washington, who later became
a
traitor
to the US by aiding the British forces, was born in Norwich in
1741. A marker a few blocks from the Green indicates the location of his
birth, but the house no longer exists.
The Mohegan Tribe Royal
Burial Ground is located in Norwich.
Present day Mohegans are noted for their casino, the
Mohegan
Sun Casino
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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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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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The
downtown harbor accommodates leisure craft of all sizes. The
Norwich Navigators,
the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, makes their home here. A
detailed
map of the attractions and a
schedule
of events are available on the Norwich website.
Vintage postcards of
Indian
Leap,
Broadway,
town hall, and the 1659
Reynolds's Place can be seen on the
GenWeb
site.
Norwich Tourism Office
69 Mainstreet Norwich, CT
Stop in for up to date activities and directions for the self conducted
walking tours. There is also a driving tour audio cassette available
for sale. 860-886-4683
Walking Tours
Norwichtown Village - Colonial town built in 1659.
Old Norwichtown Burial Grounds - Colonial cemetery with many grave markers
in tact. Twenty of the French soldiers serving under General
Lafayette were buried here in 1778.
Washington and Broad Street - Elaborate homes built by 19th century
mill owners.
Broadway and Union Streets - Examples of mid 1800s to turn of the century
architecture.
Leffingwell Museum - Furnished home of Christopher Leffingwell,
supplier of provisions to General George Washington during the
Revolutionary war
348 Washington St, Norwich
860-889-9440
Norwich Rose Garden - The beautiful Norwich
Rose Garden is located on Rockwell Street in Mohegan Park. The garden
features 2500 rose bushes in 120 varieties.
The Marina at
American Warf
Norwich Municipal Ice Rink
The Norwich Navigators
Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants 1-800-64-GATOR
or 860-887-7962.
Putts Up Dock - Norwich
Miniature golf, bumper boats in downtown Norwich at the wharf.
860-886-Putts
Norwich
Bulletin newspaper
Otis
Library
See Michael Melford's photo tour of Norwich at
vacation-mystic-connecticut.com
Heritage
Trail Vineyards in Lisbon
The University of Connecticut's Colonial
Connecticut Records site contains original historical documents that date from
1636.
History
of Norwich Connecticut From Its
Possession By the Indians, To the Year 1866 (1660-1866) buy this and other
documents on microfiche.
Rose
City Genealogy Club A brief history of
Norwich
The
Patent of the Town of Norwich, A.D. 1685
The
Deed for the City of Norwich (1659)
Other early settlers:
William
Backus ,
John
and Sara (Backus) Reynold
Puritan
in the Wilderness A Biography of the Rev. James Fitch, 1622-1702
Genealogy Sites for early
Norwich families (Bushnell, Huntington, Redfield)
Norwich
Heritage Trust
Diocese of
Norwich
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