Connecticut, beleaguered by the Pequods 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," ter of.. at Hartford, and, landing on the west Court at Newtown (Hartford) applies bank, erects the first English house in to Massachusetts for aid against the PeConnecticut (now Windsor). October, 1633 quods.. . Feb. 21, 1637 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.] [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 [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 ...1636 a child."] Roger Williams, of Rhode Island, prevents a league between the Pequods and Narragansets Fort at Saybrook, at the mouth of the The Hector lands at Boston Rev. John quois) .... ..1651 Davenport, Theophilus Eaton, and Ed- Middletown settled... ward Hopkins...... ...July 26, 1637 French agents from Quebec visit the Mr. Eaton and others explore the lands Connecticut colonists, asking aid against and harbors of Connecticut on the sea- the five nations of New York (the Irocoast, 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 Script.April 2, 1642 Boundary-line between Connecticut and Massachusetts first run by Woodward and Saffrey ....1642 ure. ...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. Law against Quakers: to be fined and sent out of jurisdiction....October, 1656 ..1654 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 Lyme made a town. ..1665 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 Governor Stuyvesant, of the New Netherlands, visits Hartford to settle certain boundary questions with the New England United Colonies....... Sept. 11, 1650 York of 1664 superseded by that of Norwalk settled.. .1651 1683 Sir Edmund Andros, the royal gov- chusetts had encroached upon Connectiernor, comes to Hartford and demands cut. The tract was sold by Connecticut the charter in the name of King James in 1716 for about $2,274; given to Yale II...... ..Oct. 31, 1687 College. Boundary run as it now is, 1826, [After a long discussion in the assem bly, 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. 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 .Sept. 19, 1765 ..1709 Gov. Thomas Fitch consents to take the oath for the support of the Stamp Act 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 expe- resign.. dition against Canada.... ... 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 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 107,793 acres, the amount that Massa- independence in 1776. He was elected gov. ernor 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 IX.-T 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.] 289 Ship Amistad, Spanish, brought into New London by Lieutenant Geding, of the May 25, 1840 Amendment to article viii. of the State constitution abolishing freehold qualification for electors, etc., ratified 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 Act passed for registering births, mar- Spottsylvania... ....May 9, 1864 October, 1845 State Teachers' Association organized April 7, 1846 Sheffield Scientific School of Yale Uni versity opened..... 1847 ...1848 riages, and deaths... Fifty thousand six hundred and twentyIsaac Toucey appointed attorney-general three three-years' troops furnished during June 21, 1848 the war ....1861-65 Samuel Colt begins the manufacture of State board of fish commissioners revolvers at Hartford... .1852 created 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 .....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 April, 1866 Legislature ratifies the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution July 21, 1865 An exciting election for governor; October, 1855 President Johnson's influence favoring Act abolishing school societies and James E. English; Joseph R. Hawley, Reputting the support of schools upon publican, elected by only 541 majority 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, 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 con |