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.
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.
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.
Burpee, Charles W. Burpee’s The Story of Connecticut. New York, NY: The American History Co., 1939.
Burpee writes a basic history about the history of Connecticut. What is most relevant to the Massacoes in this work is the history of the surrounding western Connecticut tribes. Burpee provides a good historical context to the history of the Massacoes.
Bond, C. Lawrence. Native Names of New England Towns and Villages. Reading, MA: Alan B. Bond, 2000.
Bond’s work is a compilation of native place names that can be found in New England. The author lists a few names concerning parts of Windsor and Simsbury.