They farmed, fished and hunted, often moving the villages with the seasons. The first time that the Paugussett Indians formally complained about the theft of their lands was in the 1650's. In a 1659 hearing at which no Indians were allowed to testify, the General Court in Hartford decided that the settlers had the right to take the Paugussett lands in what is now the Bridgeport area.
Golden Hill is the site of downtown Bridgeport.
This transaction is how the Paugussett Indians came to be known as Golden Hill Indians. This name has been with the Tribe for over 300 years. The well documented history of this 80-acre Golden Hill Reservation is typical of how the lands of the Paugussett Indians were stolen. Throughout the 1700's, reports of the General Court of Connecticut reflect a continuing series of complaints from the Indians regarding the incursions of settlers. The General Court recognized the claims of the Golden Hill Indians, but nothing was done to help the Indians.