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The History of Norwich, Connecticut

 

 

 

The standard reference on the history of Norwich, Connecticut is Frances Manwaring Caulkins’ History of Norwich Connecticut From Its Possession By the Indians, To the Year 1866 (1660-1866), published in 1874.  It can be found at most genealogical libraries, and is also available electronically from Digital Editions <http://www.digital-editions.com/NORWICH.htm> and on microfiche from Ancestor Spy  <http://www.ancestorspy.com/ct/fiche/0619.htm>.  An online version of the book (incomplete) can be found at Google Books.

 

For reference and links on the various surnames and families of Norwich, please see the Norwich Families page of this website.

 


 

The deed for the town of Norwich (originally “Mohegan”) reads as follows:

 

“Know all men that Onkos, Owaneco, Attawanhood, Sachems of Mohegan have Bargained, sold, and passed over, and doe by these presents sell and pass over unto the towne and Inhabitants of Norwich nine miles square of land lying and being at Mohegan and the parts thereunto adjoyneing, with all ponds, rivers. woods, quarries, mines, with all royalties, privileges, and appurtenaces thereunto belonging, to them the said inhabitiants of Norwich, theire heirs and successors forever--from thence the line run nor north east nine miles, and on the East side the afores’d river to the southward the line is to joyne with New London bounds as it is now laid out and soe to run east two miles from the foresd river, nor norwest nine miles to meet with the western line.

 

In consideration whereof the sd Onbkos, Owanexo and Attawanhood doe acknowledge to have received of the parties aforesd the full and juste sum of seventy pounds and doe promise and engage ourselves, heirs and successors, to warrant the sd bargain and sale to the aforesd parties, their heirs and successors, and them to defend from all claimes and molestations from any whatsoever.

 

In witness whereof we have hereunto set out to our hands this 6th of June, Anno 1659.

 

Unkos

Owaneco

Attawanhood

Witness hereunto, John Mason, Thomas Tracy”

 

 


 

The thirty-five original proprietors of Norwich, Connecticut were:

 

Thomas Adgate

Richard Edgerton

Maj. John Mason

Robert Allyn

John Elderkin

Dr. John Olmstead

Stephen Backus

Rev. James Fitch

John Pease

Lieut.William Backus

John Gager

John Post

John Baldwin

Stephen Gifford

Josiah Reed

Thomas Bingham

Francis Griswold

John Reynolds

John Birchard

Thomas Howard

Jonathan Royce

Morgan Bowers

Christopher Huntington

Nehemiah Smith

Thomas Bliss

Simon Huntington

John Tracy

John Bradford

Samuel Hyde

Lieut. Thomas Tracy

Hugh Calkins

William Hyde

Ens. Thomas Waterman

John Calkins

Lieut. Thomas Leffingwell