Speck, Frank G. Native Tribes and Dialects of Connecticut. Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1928.
Speck provides a very important explanation on native language in Connecticut. Although the Massacoe are not directly mentioned, they instead are lumped in with the Tunxis. Speck describes that Northwestern Connecticut tribes, such as the Massacoe, would have spoken the r-dialect.
Gay, Julius. “The Tunxis Indians: An Historical Address.” Address, Annual Meeting of the Village Library Company, Farmington, CT, September 11, 1901.
The author’s address presents the details of how Farmington was founded through deeds with the natives. Gay proceeds to talk about the legacy of the Farmington Indians up until the 1700’s.
Bradshaw, Harold Clayont. The Indians of Connecticut: The Effect of English Colonization and of Missionary Activity on Indian Life in Connecticut. Deep River, CT: New Era Press 1935.
Bradshaw writes extensively of most tribes that could have been found in Connecticut and how English settlement affected them. What is most intriguing in this work is Bradshaw’s estimate on population for the Podunks, Wangunks, and Windsor and Hartford tribes.
Trumbull, James Hammond. Indian Names of Places, etc., in and on the Borders of Connecticut. Hartford, CT: Brown & Gross, 1881
Trumbull provides a lengthy list of native place names used within Connecticut. The author includes place names such as Congamuch, Massaco, Tunxis, Wheataug and several others whose use he claims was by natives of the Farmington Valley.
Huden, John Charles. Indian Place Names of New England. New York, Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, 1962.
In his work, John Huden compiles an extensive list of native place names that he was able to collect within New England. Huden additionally provides English translations or extensive explanations of the terms, along with general modern day location and what tribe most likely used the term. Included in this list are place names, such as Massaco, Manahanoose, Tunxis, Wepansock, Pautonk and many more.
Melgrave, Claudine. Indian Herbal Remedies. 1968.
Melgrave, the editor, provides examples given by natives themselves of plants found in New England that could be used medicinally. The examples provide explanations of what the plant is good for, and how to prepare the plant. Some examples include pine, wild raspberries, maple trees and tobacco.
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.
Carter, W. H. North American Indian Medical Practices and Burial Customs. London: Namind Printers & Publishers, 1973
Carter’s compilation contains explanations of multiple plants and customs. Although the author does not list or explain many plants of customs as very specific to Connecticut, he does give an important explanation on tobacco. Tobacco, despite having been of a different variety, grew since before the time of native-settler contact. The plant became an important to both settlers and natives.
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.