Pequot
Pequot is pronounced pəh-quote (ə as in 'a' hat). Land:The traditional homelands of the Pequot include the eastern
woodlands area formerly known as the Thames Valley. The Pequot now reside on
two reservations in southeast Connecticut.Traditions:The Pequot cultivated acres
of corn, fished in the rivers and hunted woodland animals for their meat and
for skins.History: British settlers moved in near the Pequot
and lived together peacefully, trading goods and exchanging information. New
colonists were gradually moving in, in a forceful manner that upset the Pequot.
The Pequot soon found themselves stuck between the Narragansett Bay and
the Connecticut River and resentment began to grow within the tribe. Several
quarrels had been taking place between the British and Pequot over the previous
years. It all came to a head in 1636 when a Pequot was accused of murdering a
Boston trader on Block Island. An expedition was sent to destroy native
villages and the crops of the Pequot. This made the tribe more defensive and
more determined to protect their homeland. Clergymen encouraged violence and
British settlers decided to fight. The short but deadly Pequot War of 1637 was
headed up by Captain John Mason and John Underhill on the British side.
The British had the help of the Mohegan and Narraganset tribes. The
Pequot's main fort, located at Mystic, Connecticut, was attacked by surprise
and burned and pillaged. Nearly 600 Pequot were burned alive or slaughtered.
The Pequot decided to escape in small groups. One group escaped to Long Island,
another to the interior of the state. The last group was lead by Sassacus, who
was caught near Fairfield, Connecticut. They were all either killed or
captured. Those that were caught were sold into slavery to others in New
England or the West Indies. Sassacus, who managed to escape with a few others,
were caught and killed by the Mohawk. The Mohegan took possession of all Pequot
land. Those who had become slaves were treated terribly so the colonial
government stepped in and took control of the slaves. The government resettled
the remaining few tribe members on the Mystic River. The population never grew
back after the war. The number of tribe members dropped down to 200 in the late
20th century.
Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not
claim expertise on the Pequot.
Please send questions, comments, and corrections to emuseum@mnsu.edu and include the web address of this page.
If you are Pequot, your feedback is much appreciated.
Mashantucket Pequot Nation: http://www.foxwoods.com/TheMashantucketPequots/Home/
Mashantucket Museum and Research Center: http://www.pequotmuseum.org/
References:
Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Pequot
http://members.eb.com/bol/topic?eu=60661&sctn=1#s_top 6 March 2001
Enclopedia.com. Pequot
http://www.encyclopedia.com/articlesnew/10008.html 6 March 2001
Written by: Jenifer Bussian
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