Spiess, Mathias. The Indians of Connecticut. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1933.
Mathias writes about Connecticut natives in pre-contact times in relation to dominating outside tribes, and then describes the history behind the different English settlements in the Connecticut and Farmington River Valleys. The author tries to connect each tribe, and is one of the only authors so far who have claimed the Massacoe had absolutely nothing to do with the Tunxis natives.
Roberts, George S. Historic Towns of the Connecticut River Valley. Schenectady, NY: Robson & Adee Publishers, 1906.
In this book, one can find a description of the histories of mostly every major town in the Connecticut River Valley. Roberts specifically provides the history of Farmington and Bloomfield, which used to be called Wintonbury, and included parts of Simsbury. The author mentions an Indian Deed of 1660 that describes the land as wilderness.
Williams, Mark. The Brittle Thread of Life. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2009.
Williams’ book is an important historical work about Salmon Brook, once a part of the original Simsbury. The author gives a history of the settlement of Simsbury, and eventually how the settlement of Salmon Brook came to be. Additionally, the fate of the Massacoes is discussed, with Williams suggesting massive death by disease and departure from the area.
Vibert, William M. Three Centuries of Simsbury: 1670-1970. Simsbury, CT: Simsbury Tercentenary Committee Inc, 1970.
Vibert covers almost all areas of Simsbury and Massacoe history. He gives details on Massacoe territory, villages, burial grounds, food, weapons and native legends.
Phelps, Noah A. A History of the Copper Mines and Newgate Prison at Granby, Conn., also, of The Captivity of Daniel Hayes, of Granby, by the Indians, in 1707. Hartford, CT: Tiff & Burham, 1845.
Phelps recounts the history of Newgate Prison and the copper mines in Granby, and also tells the story of Daniel Hayes. The story of Hayes capture and eventual return to Granby is the most related part of the text to the research. After harming a native’s dog in Weatogue, Hayes is captured and brought to Canada. Perhaps the most interesting part of the text is that Phelps includes the assertion that the problems with natives had ended long before this incident.
Lavin, Lucianne. “The Morgan Site, Rocky Hill, Connecticut: A Late Woodland Farming Community in the Connecticut River Valley”. ASC 51 (1988): 7-22
Dr. Lavin does not provide information on Simsbury or the Massacoes in this essay, but does give insight into finds at a comparable site along the Connecticut River. This work is important because Lavin provides comparisons between inland finds and coastal finds.
Stiles, Henry R. The History of Ancient Windsor. Vol. 1. Hartford, CT: Press of the Case, Lockwood, and Brainard, 1891.
Stiles’ lengthy work includes not only the history of Windsor, but also the histories of all areas that surround Windsor in the Connecticut River Valley. Stiles includes important and useful quotes from letters and court decisions related to the settlement of Simsbury, and the natives in that territory.
Lyon, William S. Encyclopedia of Native American Healing. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC CLIO, Inc., 1996.
Lyon’s work gives information about various types of ceremonies, medicines and individuals who had an impact on Native American societies across the United States and Canada. Although Lyon’s work is limited when concerning Connecticut, he does provide some important explanations for certain ceremonies, practices and individuals who played a role in healing.
Morgan, Forrest. Connecticut as a Colony and as a State, or One of the Original Thirteen. Hartford, CT: Publishing Society of Connecticut, 1904.
Morgan unfortunately does not mention Simsbury or the Massacoes in his history. What is written about is a general history of Connecticut, with important facts such as native population in Farmington and Connecticut, and the relationship western tribes had with the Iroquois.
Hollister, G. H. The History of Connecticut from the First Settlement of the Colony to the Adoption of the Present Constitution. New Haven, CT: Durrie & Peck, 1855.
Hollister’s historical compilation is inclusive of the history of Connecticut from its settlement to about the time of the book’s first publication. Besides providing background history to the Connecticut River Valley, Hollister provides descriptions of the settlements of both Simsbury, and its direct neighbor, Farmington. Hollister mentions the contact between the settlers and the natives.