The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-28
PATAC0NK'S EARLY PEOPLE
"A SNORT SKETCH or THE INDIANS
OF THAT SECTION.


Article by an Interesting Writer.
70. G. Hungerford, in the Deep River
New Era says: That part of the town
Of Chester lying north of the stream
called Pataconk river on ancient maps,
and now usually known as, Chester
Cove, was known by the name of Pat
aconk from the earliest settlement of
the country by the whites. The name
was taken from the hill, now sometimes
river on the north side OF the road a
few rods west of Hadlyme ferry. This
hill was Pataconk.
According to DR.. Trumbull (the best
authority the word Patacouk means,
first: A hill which is a lookout place.
Second: A round or wigwam shaped
hill. Third A sweating place. All
three of these names were appropriate
for this hill.
ing Pataconk and what is now Had
dam and East Haddam was known as
Wangunks or Wangums. They are
supposed to have been subject to the
great Sachem Uncas, as in 1701 Uncas
complained to the general court Qegis-
lature) that the Inhabitants of Had
dam has trespassed on his rights.
In May, 1862, nine Indian men and
two women of these Wangunks sold a
tract of land extending six miles east
and west Of the Connecticut river, and
reaching from the straits this side of
Middletown to Pataconk (probabiy to
the stream.) The only reservation
made was for forty acres of land at
Pataconk and also an island in the
river, known as Thirty Mile island
(probably Haddam island.) For this
large tract twelve miles wide and not
far from thirteen miles long, the Indi-
ans received thirty coats, worth per-
haps one hundred dollars, or at the
rate Of about five square miles of land
for each coat. The Indian men who
signed this deed were Turramuggus,
Unlaus, Chiamugg and Nabahuit. The
two women who signed were Supunne-
moe and Towkishk. The other Indins
did not sign their names for some rea-
son, perhaps absence. 1t was evident
that both the Indians and the whites
supposed that this sale extended south
to Pataconk river, and this Pataconk
reservation is supposed for several
reasons to have extended from the
south side of Pataconk (now ForD
Hill to Parker's Point on the north and
bordering on the Connecticut river.
The Indians remained on and about
these reservations for many years, but
a controversy arose between Saybrook
and Haddam and in 1864 the general
court Qegislature) gave to Saybrook
two miles north of Pataconk river and
SO the poor Indians were declared to
be in Saybrook. The Indians petition
ed the authorities Of Saybrook to re-
spect their rights in Pataconk reserva-
ton, but there is no evidence that any
attention was paid to this petition. In
May, 1705, Keepuquam and other In
dams made application to the general
court for the quiet possession of the
forty acres Pataconk reservation
claiming it as an ancient right of their
ancestors, and representing that they
met with opposition to this claim from
the inhabitants of Saybrook. The
hearing Of this matter was deferred by
the general court until the October SEES
j. sion, and notice of the hearing was
served upon the selectmen of Saybrook
with orders for them to appear and an
swer to the complaint of the Indians
1t is not known what disposition was
finally made of the complaint.
There is no evidence of any serious
trouble between the whites and these
Wangunk Indians, which is good rea-
son for believing these Indians to have
been good, honest, kind and forbearine
people. The last sachem but one of the
Wangunk Indians was called Doctor
Robins. He died before 1757. His son
who was the last sachem was named
Richard Ranney. He wrote and spoke
the English language, learned the
trade of joiner, and became a profess
sor of religion. In 1854 the Wangunks
numbered only thirty or forty persons
The existence Of the tribe of Wan
gunks or Wangums as a tribe ended in
1885. The last Indians who made thei1
homes in Pataconk (Chester) were
Philip Dorus, Dolly Pianco, Lydia
YANKEE, Jim Sobuck, Joe Sobuck
Massey Sobuck and Molly Chockeague
Most of these lie buried in the north.
west corner of the "old buryine
ground" just southwest of the towr
hall. The last of the Waukee family
lived near Pine Ledge, and the last OF
the Sobuck, had a small house near the
southwest end of Watrous pond.
So far as is known the last one of the
Indian race in this region of country
was Chester Brooks, who was des.
cendant of the Pequot Indians. He was
q soldier in the late civil war, and died
In 1885, and he lies buried among the
people of his race in the cold buryins
ground before named, and his gun
which he used in hunting, is buried ii
the same grave, in remembrance of the
custom of his Indian ancestors.
Pataconk itself, the hill which gave
the name to this whole region, Gas one
meaning of it's name implies,) is 6
round wigwam shaped hill with very
steep sides; and on its top is a beauti-
full level table land of perhaps foul
acres This table land was once g, par
of the river bed; and some other parts
of this ancient river bed are shown
level spots of sandy land about thi:
same height extending westerly from
Pataconk as far as the Congregations
church; and in Hadlyme it is shown il
the sandy plain lying between the up.
per and lower coves This river bee
has been mostly washed away but