Tunxis
Encyclopedia
The Tunxis were a Native American
tribe historically linked to the Wappinger
that lived by a sizeable bend on the Farmington River
near where Farmington
and Southington
in Hartford County
, Connecticut
exist today. The name Tunxis comes from the Wuttunkshau-sepus word meaning "the point where the river bends". (Trumbull) Though they engaged in basket and food trade with the first settlers to what is now Farmington, the tribe was subject to Sequassen, the sachem
who sold the English the land that became Hartford, Connecticut. In 1610 they sold the greater part of their territory, and around 1700 still retained a small village in the growing settlement Farmington, but by 1761 they had largely left the area.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribe historically linked to the Wappinger
Wappinger
The Wappinger were an American tribe native to eastern New York. The term "Wappinger" may also refer to:* Wappinger, New York, the Town of Wappinger named for the tribe...
that lived by a sizeable bend on the Farmington River
Farmington River
The Farmington River is a river located in northwest Connecticut, with major tributaries extending into southwest Massachusetts. Via its longest branch , the Farmington's length increases to , making it the Connecticut River's longest tributary by a mere over the major river directly to its...
near where Farmington
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...
and Southington
Southington, Connecticut
Southington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of Connecticut's 1st congressional district. It is situated about 20 miles southwest of Hartford, about 80 miles northeast of New York City, 105 miles southwest of Boston and 77 miles west of Providence...
in Hartford County
Hartford County, Connecticut
Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the US state of Connecticut. The 2010 Census records show that the county population is at 894,014 making it the second most populated county in Connecticut....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
exist today. The name Tunxis comes from the Wuttunkshau-sepus word meaning "the point where the river bends". (Trumbull) Though they engaged in basket and food trade with the first settlers to what is now Farmington, the tribe was subject to Sequassen, the sachem
Sachem
A sachem[p] or sagamore is a paramount chief among the Algonquians or other northeast American tribes. The two words are anglicizations of cognate terms from different Eastern Algonquian languages...
who sold the English the land that became Hartford, Connecticut. In 1610 they sold the greater part of their territory, and around 1700 still retained a small village in the growing settlement Farmington, but by 1761 they had largely left the area.