The first English colonists settled on Connecticut soil on September 26, 1633. They came from Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts and established a trading house at the original confluence of the Farmington and Connecticut Rivers (map item B). This place was known thereafter as Plymouth Meadows. It is located in the town of Windsor and is the basis of its claim to be Connecticut's first town.

These rivers were originally named the Rivulet and the Great River, respectively, and the original confluence was about a quarter of a mile south of where it is today (map item A). This change is because in 1735 it appears: "Tradition says that Gov. Wolcott dug a channel through the neck of land (the present mouth of the Rivulet) to enable him to land his passengers on Plymouth Meadows, or Great Meadows, as preferred." Thus, Wolcott enhanced his river ferry that went from the east side of the Connecticut River to the west side; by cutting through the former peninsula of land that is now an island (see map). Hence, the confluence is now a quarter of a mile upstream.

Previous to the Plymouth arrival, the Dutch explored this area in 1614 but never colonized until June 1633, when they built a trading post where today's Park River meets the Connecticut River in Hartford. Their trading house was known as the "House of Good Hope." As early as 1627 the Dutch from New Amsterdam met with the Plymouth Colony, inviting them to the fertile lands on the Connecticut. Though this meeting was civil, the English contested the Dutch's right to colonize what they thought was theirs. It wasn't until the Indians of this immediate area traveled to both Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth colonies, inviting them to settle in this rich fertile valley, that the English finally colonize here. These Indians wanted the English here as a deterrent to the oppressing Pequot. The Indians knew the power of the white man's guns could keep this oppression at bay.

The Plymouth group came by sea and up the Connecticut River, past the already established Dutch Trading Post, settling in Plymouth Meadows, on the south side of the Farmington River's terminus. They bought this land known as Matianuck from the local Indians. The Dorchester group from Massachusetts Bay came by way of land a short time later and settled just north of the Farmington River in what was called the Great Meadows (see map).

The written record tells us that the Plymouth Plantation group, under the charge of Lt. William Holmes, arrived by ship in 1633, bringing with them the frame of a house for immediate erection. These materials may have come from England, because there were no sawmills during this time in the colonies. Also, a palisade was built around this trading house. This complex was surrounded by 43 acres of meadow. Incidentally, do not confuse this palisade with another built on the north side of the Farmington River by the previously mentioned Massachusetts Bay's Dorchester group in 1637 for protection during the Pequot War. The trading house was continuously occupied and its surroundings farmed until this plot was sold to Matthew Allen of the Dorchester group in 1637. After he bought the land, materials to build Allen's new house were from the old Trading House.

There is little doubt the Plymouth Meadows was inhabited before the English came. Both the written and archaeological record indicate this. Centuries of spring freshets have continually left fertile alluvium. It is also documented that the meadow was already cleared for agriculture and fit for cultivation when the first English arrived.

Some noteworthy events took place at the Plymouth Trading House shortly after its establishment. One was an encounter with 70 Dutch soldiers in battle array who came up to dislodge them for settling here and cutting into the fur trading business with the Indians. There are no details of this event, other than that the Plymouth people had enough of a force to call their bluff and withstand them without a shot being fired. Also, in the winter of 1633-34 the Indians living near the Trading House came down with smallpox and sought refuge there. The English tried to help them but the Indians having no resistance to this disease died in large numbers.

The main reason for writing this article is that we may have a wonderful opportunity this year for an archaeological study in a portion of the Plymouth Meadows. While I was on docent duty at the Windsor Historical Society, a visitor stopped to tell me he was the owner of this very historic property (map item C). His property borders the southern line of the Loomis Institute. He expressed his desire for an archaeological study here. We exchanged contacts and agreed to meet in the spring.

What can we possibly learn from an archaeological study here? First and foremost would be evidence of the remains of the Plymouth Trading House. But from an archaeological perspective, if the materials for the Trading House were reused and relocated as previously mentioned above, it decreases the chances of finding the Trading House site. In this situation we will have to depend on finding its palisade or any residual foundations, footings or soil stains

We will probably find some degree of prehistoric artifacts and hopefully features in what was no doubt a very desirable place to settle and live for the Native Americans in prehistoric times because of its fertile soil for agriculture and its rivers for fishing.

A view of Plymouth Meadows today from the adjacent Loomis Institute road is spectacular and captures your imagination. It is a picturesque sight, bordered by two tree-lined rivers. One can only wish they were in a time machine to see all the prehistoric and historic events that took place here. Archaeology is the closest thing we have to this science fiction technology. Perhaps if this summer's research comes to fruition we will be placed in our own time machine.

References:
Stiles, Henry. The History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor. Picton Press, PO Box 250, Rockport, Maine 04856- 0250: 1891.
Howard, Daniel. A New History of Old Windsor, Connecticut. The Journal Press of Windsor Locks, Ct.: 1935.