Wangunks

The earliest residents of Haddam and surrounding towns were members of Wangunk tribe of Native Americans who hunted, fished and grew corn, beans and tobacco. The tribe was also referred to as the Wangum or Wongam. In the Algonquin language the Wangum means “bend” which may refer to the large bend in the river just north of Town of Haddam. Unfortunately, little is known of the Wangunk Tribe and little is recorded about their existence. 

The Wangunks had numerous settlements in the Haddam area and had relatively peaceful relationships with neighboring tribes, including the Pequots, Western Niantic and Mohegan. The Wangunks were once a large tribe under a sachem named Sowheag. They tried to stay out of major early conflicts with Colonial settlers, unlike the Pequots, and it is recorded by early settlers “that the Wongam have showed willingness to be peaceably in our towns”. However, over time due to land sales, relocation and disease the Wangunk disappeared from the lower Connecticut River Valley.

In 1662, the Native Americans sold the land now comprising Haddam and East Haddam to the English for 30 coats, however, reserving the Island and 40 acres in Pattaquonk to live and maintaining the right to hunt and fish provided they did not “molest” the English. The settlers named the area “Plantation of Thirty Mile Island” after the island, but later changed to Haddam in 1668.

The Wangunks rented fishing places on the island to Haddam residents and held on to ownership of the island until 1790’s when the Connecticut State Assembly granted the descendants of “Indian Cobcozen” the right to sell it. Early land records note that the island was also known as Cobs Island.

The following are the names of the Native Americans who signed the original Thirty Mile Island Plantation deed in 1662.  The value of the 30 coats given in payment for approximately 150 square miles of land probably did not exceed $100.

 Two Women (Queens)

 1. Seppunomoi  (Sep-pun-o-moi)  and her children:

Pampoosome ( Pam- poo-som) and    Kenawaytahoe (Kee-way-tahoe)

 2. Tokishka (To-kish-ka)  and her children

 Four Men (Kings)

 1.Turranmuggus and his son

 2.Ulnas

 3.Chiamugg

 4. Nabahuet (Na-ba-haet)