Treaty of Hartford (1638) facts for kids
The Treaty of Hartford was an important agreement signed on September 21, 1638. It involved the English colonists from New England and two Native American tribes, the Mohegan and the Narragansett. They met in Hartford, Connecticut, to decide what would happen after a big conflict called the Pequot War.
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Why the Treaty Was Needed
The years 1636 and 1637 saw a major conflict known as the Pequot War. This war involved English colonists living near the Connecticut River and their allies, the Mohegan and Narragansett tribes. The war led to the defeat of the Pequot Native Americans. After the war, the winners – the English colonists and their Mohegan and Narragansett allies – needed to decide how to share what they had gained from their victory.
What the Treaty Decided
The Treaty of Hartford involved the Mohegan and Narragansett tribes. It also included three English settlements in New England that would later become the Connecticut River Colony in 1639.
Dividing People and Land
One key part of the treaty was deciding what would happen to the surviving Pequot people.
- Pequot prisoners were divided among the winning tribes.
- Each of the Mohegan and Narragansett tribes received 80 captives.
- Twenty captives were given to Ninigret, a leader of the Eastern Niantic tribe, who were allies of the Narragansett.
- The English colonists also kept some Pequot captives, though the exact number was not specified.
The land that used to belong to the Pequots was given to the English towns along the Connecticut River.
Outlawing the Pequot Name
Another very important part of this treaty was to officially outlaw the Pequot name. This meant that:
- Any Pequot survivors would no longer be called "Pequot."
- Instead, they would be referred to as Mohegans or Narragansetts.
- No new Pequot towns or settlements would be allowed to be built.
This treaty was officially signed on September 21, 1638.
Massachusetts Bay Colony's Role
The Massachusetts Bay Colony had also helped in the war against the Pequots. However, they were not part of the Treaty of Hartford. This caused some disagreements between Massachusetts and Connecticut. The Massachusetts Bay Colony felt that the Treaty of Hartford took away their rights to Pequot lands. They believed they had earlier agreements with the Narragansetts and Mohegans that gave them these rights.
