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.
Cooper, Karen Coody. “Connecticut Indians: Early and Now.” The New England Social Studies Bulletin, 1986.
Cooper provides a general history of the settlement of the Connecticut River Valley. Along with providing information on first contact between natives and settlers, Cooper also helps to differentiate between the different tribes. Important historical context is provided that helps understanding the movements happening not far from Simsbury.
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.
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.
Lavin, Lucianne. Connecticut’s Indigenous Peoples: What Archaeology, History, and Oral Traditions teach Us About Their Communities and Cultures. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2013.
Dr. Lavin provides an important source of ancient Native American history based largely on archaeological finds. Although Simsbury is not specifically mentioned, Lavin discusses in length about finds in Farmington, Windsor, South Windsor and other surrounding towns that give clues to what life must have been like for the indigenous peoples over the course of thousands of years up until contact. Specific finds, such as food and tools, suggest what the natives in the Farmington Valley ate, and how the acquisition of complex tools through development and trade led to an evolving lifestyle.
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.
Ellsworth, John E. Simsbury, Being a Brief Historical Sketch of Ancient and Modern Simsbury 1642-1932. Simsbury, CT: The Simsbury Committee for the Tercentenary, 1935.
Ellsworth writes a history of Simsbury, and includes important information about the settlement of Simsbury and the natives of the area. The natives are written about in some detail, with paths, village locations, local native legends, relationships with specific natives, etc.