Treaty of Hartford (1638)

Quick Facts: Who was Treaty of Hartford (1638)?

Subject:

Treaty of Hartford (1638)

Known for:

A 1638 agreement between English colonists, Mohegan, and Narragansett following the Pequot War.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Treaty of Hartford was a treaty concluded between English colonists in Connecticut, the Mohegan nation and the Narragansett nation on September 21, 1638, following the Pequot War, in Hartford, Connecticut. It sought to eradicate the Pequot cultural identity by prohibiting the Pequots from returning to their lands, speaking their tribal language, or referring to themselves as Pequots. The Pequot War of 1636 and 1637 saw the virtual elimination of the Pequot Indians.

Career & Major Achievements

The victors, English colonists living along the Connecticut River and their Mohegan and Narragansett allies, met to decide on the division of the fruits of victory. The Mohegan and Narragansett tribes and the three English settlements in New England that would become the Connecticut River Colony in 1639, participated in the treaty.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Surviving Pequot prisoners were divided between the tribes, with an unspecified number of captives being kept by the New England colonists; each tribe received 80 captives, with 20 captives being awarded to Ninigret, a sachem of the Eastern Niantic who were allied with the Narragansett. The Pequot lands went to the Connecticut River towns.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1636: 1636 Milestone — The Pequot War of 1636 and 1637 saw the virtual elimination of the Pequot Indians.
2. 1638: 1638 Milestone — The Treaty of Hartford was a treaty concluded between English colonists in Connecticut, the Mohegan nation and the Narragansett nation on September 21, 1638, following the Pequot War, in Hartford, Connecticut.
3. 1639: 1639 Milestone — The Mohegan and Narragansett tribes and the three English settlements in New England that would become the Connecticut River Colony in 1639, participated in the treaty.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Treaty of Hartford (1638)

True or False: “True or false: The Treaty of Hartford aimed only to divide the physical lands of the Pequots among the victors.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): False. The treaty had a deeper cultural aim, explicitly seeking to eradicate the Pequot cultural identity by prohibiting them from speaking their language or referring to themselves as Pequots.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Amakusa Shirō — Historical peer (Died in 1638) (1638): Leader of the Shimabara Rebellion, a pivotal figure in early Edo period Japanese Christianity.
• Cornelius Jansen — Historical peer (Died in 1638) (1638): Influential Dutch Bishop and founder of the theological movement known as Jansenism.
• Date Masamune — Historical peer (Died in 1636) (1636): Powerful samurai daimyō who founded Sendai and earned the title "One-Eyed Dragon"
• Dong Qichang — Historical peer (Died in 1636) (1636): Influential Ming Dynasty art theorist, calligrapher, and painter.
• Ben Jonson — Historical peer (Died in 1637) (1637): Master dramatist of the English Renaissance, known for satire and comedy of humours.
• Dieterich Buxtehude — Historical peer (Born in 1637) (1637): Master of the North German Organ School, profoundly influencing J.S. Bach.
• Elizabeth Cary, Viscountess Falkland — Historical peer (Died in 1639) (1639): Pioneering English poet and dramatist, known for publishing the first original English play.
• Jean Racine — Historical peer (Born in 1639) (1639): Master tragedian of 17th-century France, celebrated for psychological depth.

Frequently Asked Questions about Treaty of Hartford (1638)