Holdt, David. “George McLean & the George Family: A Bond with the Land”. McLean Game Refuge. http://www.mcleangamerefuge.orgGeorgeMcLeanAndTheGeorgesPhotos.pdf
Holdt writes a short history of the McLean Game Refuge. The author describes in detail the founding of the refuge, and how Amos George, a Pequot, came to work and live on the refuge for decades. This source is an important example of how native’s presence continues into modern day.
“River History” by Dr. Eileen Fielding. Simsbury, CT: The Farmington Watershed Association, 2014.
Dr. Fielding, Director of the Farmington Watershed Association, gave a presentation on the history of the Farmington River in 2014. She was kind enough to export that presentation on a disc for future use. Dr. Fielding provides facts on what types of fish live in the Farmington, and also the relationship the natives had with the Farmington River who lived alongside or near it.
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.
Banks, Marc and Lucianne Lavin. Archaeological Site Sensitivity Analysis of the Town of Simsbury. Simsbury, CT: Simsbury Planning Department, 2002.
Banks and Lavin write a summary of an archaeological survey of Simsbury. Included are old maps, copies of deeds from the natives, and descriptions of finds based chronologically. What might be extremely useful are maps of Simsbury that indicate what locations had finds, and which locations might have the most finds if excavated. This source might tell us the most specifically about the Massacoes that lived here for thousands of years.
Feder, Ken. “The Glazier Blade Cache: Thirty Remarkable Blades Found in Granby, Connecticut”. ASC 66 (2004): 101-113.
Feder’s essay is fascinating because he writes about a huge prehistoric find in Granby, Connecticut. Feder recounts how with assistance he unearths thirty blades made with high skill that date to around 425 AD and 450 AD.
Banks, Marc & Kenneth Feder. “Archaeological Survey of the McLean Game Refuge, Granby and Simsbury, Connecticut”. ASC 59 (1996): 39-52.
Written in 1996, this Archaeological Survey is very important to understanding the natives who lived in Simsbury and Granby. Banks and Feder provide details of their finds from the McLean Game Refuge, which includes conclusions that the natives used the area as a seasonal, repetitive campsite.
Godard, Gladys. Gladys Godard to Dewey, July 28, 1965. Salmon Brook Historical Society, Granby, CT.
This is a copied letter found in the Salmon Brook Historical Society. The letter includes two interesting details. One is about a reported “Indian cave” in Granby, while another is a reported native burial.
Fisher, Clavin. “The Caretaker Mystery Still Shrouds the McLean Game Refuge.” Unpublished typescript, n.d.
Fisher’s article is about Amos George, a Pequot native and the caretaker of McLean Game Refuge in Simsbury and Granby starting in 1932. Fisher does not depict George in an overly positive light, but this article does help to prove native presence in Simsbury in more modern times.