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The Branford
Area
in the
decade before
English
Settlement:
1635 - 1644
by John Kirby
In 1635, the land that is now Branford and North
Branford was called Totoket, place of the tidal
river. Sachem Montowese had inherited Totoket from
his mother who was a Quinnipiac Indian of chiefly
lineage. Although his mother was a Quinnipiac, his
father, Sowheage, was the mighty sachem (chief) of
the Mattabesec Indians whose land stretched
northward to Middletown and beyond. These two
kindred tribes shared an interest in Totoket that
enabled the inland Indians access to the Sound to
obtain seafood, to collect shells for making wampum,
and to trade with Europeans.
The
Dutch established a trading post on what is now the
Branford River about 1635. They built a structure
known as the Dutch House and had a landing where the
present Dutch Warf is located. Montowese promoted
the trade of beaver and other skins to the Dutch
from his domain and that of his father.
Prior to 1638, Thomas Mulliner and his family
arrived from Ipswich, England. Montowese allowed
Mulliner to occupy Branford Point, but the
relationship between the two men is uncertain.
Mulliner was a mariner and competent carpenter, but
also a disreputable troublemaker. A carved chest
attributed to Mulliner may well be the oldest extant
example of American furniture.
Thomas Whitway also lived in Totoket before 1644. He
learned the Indian languages easily and often served
as interpreter.
In the Pequot War of 1636-37, between six and seven
hundred Pequots were slain by members of the
Connecticut and Massachusetts Colonies at the Indian
fort near the Mystic River. This war had a dramatic
effect on the Totoket area. Firstly, the Pequots
were no longer a threat. Secondly, for the first
time, the northern coast of the Sound had been
observed by a number of Englishmen in their pursuits
of the Pequots. One of the ship owners was John Plum
from Wethersfield, who would later become the first
town clerk of Totoket (Branford).
Favorable reports about the northern shore of Long
Island led to the settlement of New Haven by John
Davenport and Theophilius Eaton. Quinnipiac (New
Haven) was purchased from Sachem Momaugin on Nov.24th,
1638. The tribe consisted of only 47 braves and
their families. A reservation of about 1200 acres
was set aside for the Quinnipiacs on the east side
of the present New Haven Harbor. On Dec.11, 1638,
Davenport and Eaton purchased land from Montowese
which included Totoket. The price was a coat of
English cloth for himself and eleven coats of
trucking cloth for his small band
of
warriors. In the agreement the area called Totoket
called Indian Neck was allotted to the Mattabesec
Indians.
Samuel Eaton, brother of Theophilius, was granted
Totoket in 1640 to be settled by a group from
England. He sailed to England to arrange settlement
but decided not to return.
Between 1640 and 1644, Totoket was not an
unknown wilderness as some historians have
suggested. On Feb.24th, 1644 “Totoket, a
place fit for a small plantation, betwixt Newhaven
and Guilford & purchased from the Indians, was
granted to Mr. Swayne & some others of
Wethersfield.” At a later date Totoket became
Branford, and the road from the center of town to
Indian Neck was named Montowese Street.
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