Tunxis
The Tunxis were Algonquin- speaking Indians who lived in what is now western Connecticut on the Farmington River west of Hartford . The name means people from the bend of the river . They belonged to a large number of small tribes from the Mattabesic group in western Connecticut, who were expelled from their settlement area early by the English colonists. Like other New England tribes, they were semi-settled and seasonally migrated between relatively consistent locations. Their main diet was maize grown by women, as well as fish and game. They lost their tribe identity today.
history
17th century
Relations between Tunxis and English were typical of those between Native Americans and Europeans in North America. Initially, the Indians welcomed the newcomers, but as the number of white immigrants grew and the indigenous people learned the strange European view of land ownership, the tribes began to fight the invaders. The Europeans, for their part, feared the Indians and viewed them as an annoying obstacle to colonizing the country.
The first record of the Tunxis dates back to 1642, when a group of white Hartford settlers hunting found their village on the banks of the Farmington River. Around 1650 the English from Hartford concluded an agreement with the Tunxis: the colonists promised the Tunxis protection from their enemies for the use of the land. In fact, the deal was a contract of sale and the English seriously believed they were the owners of the land now. In 1650 a new contract was signed in which this purchase agreement was confirmed and land on the eastern bank of the Farmington River in Indian Neck was reserved for the Tunxis .
In general, the historical traditions reflect the deep distrust and fear of the English of the indigenous people. In 1654, the Connecticut colonial government banned the sale of alcohol to the Indians. Traders were punished and a Dutchman who was caught selling alcohol several times came to court and was expelled from the colony. In 1666 the Tunxis were not allowed to enter the city armed if they numbered more than 9 men.
Europeans exploited this fear by courting the tribal alliance to drive rival European countries out of the colonies. Both the Dutch and the French and English used the indigenous people as terrifying allies. Many of the tribes were traditional enemies or allies of one another, but sometimes they also switched sides - completely unpredictable for the Europeans.
Initially, the Pequot were the most feared Indians in Connecticut. Their raids on farms and settlements in the colony sparked the Pequot War in 1636 , in which many colonists from Hartford and Farmington fought. A number of other tribes allied with the English against the Pequot, killing many fleeing tribesmen. One tried to literally exterminate the tribe.
The Mohawk were also a particularly warlike tribe from eastern New York State and a constant threat to the Tunxis. In 1658 an incident occurred when Stockbridge Indians raided Tunxis village. The Tunxis warriors saw themselves outnumbered and fled, but the Tunxis women surprisingly attacked the enemy from behind and so the Tunxis still managed to win.
Tunxis warriors, together with the Pocumtuc and Narraganset, attacked the Mohegan in southeast Connecticut in the winter of 1658/59 . In King Philip's War (1675–1676) the Tunxis fought on the English side.
Though outwardly friendly, relations between the Farmington settlers and the Tunxis were nuanced. The colonists urged the Tunxis to sign an additional contract for new land sales in 1673 after complaining that settlers were stealing land from them and even invading Indian Neck. Those responsible in the town of Farmington did not want to negotiate with the Tunxis about it, so the tribe had to turn to the Parliament (General Assembly) in Hartford. As a result, the city appointed a four-member committee to investigate the Tunxis complaint. On May 22, 1673 a new contract was signed, in which, among other things, the Tunxis 200 acres (0.809 km²) in Indian Neck were guaranteed as tribal property. The tribe also received a symbolic payment of £ 3 as a token of goodwill.
18th century
Relations between the two cultures improved in the 18th century, but not in favor of the Tunxis. They expected advice, protection and guidance from the English. There are records of trade between the two parties from which it can be seen that the Tunxis traded corn, animal skins, furs and tallow for everyday objects and tools made of iron and fabrics. Other reports indicate that there was a continuing loss of Native American culture and land in Indian Neck during the 18th century. Some tribesmen had to pay fines and debts with their land. The tribe continuously accused the English colonists of trespassing on their Indian Neck land, and neither the Hartford city nor the government did anything about it.
Four Tunxis warriors served in the British Army in the French and Indian War (1754–1763). By the third quarter of the 18th century, the Tunxis had almost completely taken over English culture, but were not accepted by the white population. The tribe members lived outside the city and were not involved in political decisions or social benefits. The plan to move to the Mohawk in New York State was postponed by the outbreak of the American War of Independence (1775–1783). The Mohawk fought on the British side in this war. In 1777, 31 members of the tribe signed a petition declaring their intention to sell their land. A commission was set up to divide the Indian land among the tribal members. The land was distributed to 17 men and 24 women and most of them were sold. After that, most of the tribe members moved to the Schaghticoke Indians on the border with New York, not to be confused with the city of Schaghticoke. In 1785 there were very few Tunxis left in Farmington. A report by Samson Occom , a Mohegan missionary, states that only eight Tunxis Indians lived in Indian Neck in 1785.
This is where the story of the Farmington tribe ends. The sequel is surely the story of individuals of Native American origin who lived in Farmington, such as the Mossock family, the Wimpey family, and others known by record. Research continues to learn about the lives of these people, as well as the fate of the Tunxis after they left Connecticut.
See also
swell
literature
- Bruce G. Trigger (Ed.): Handbook of North American Indians . Vol. 15. Northeast . Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC 1978, ISBN 0-16-004575-4 .