The Timeline

Important Dates in Connecticut's History
INTRODUCTION Connecticut History Overview
   
1614 Adriaen Block, representing the Dutch, sails up the Connecticut River.
1611–1630 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
   
1633 Dutch fort erected, the House of (Good) Hope, on the future site of Hartford. Plymouth Colony sends William Holmes to found a trading post at Windsor.
1634 Wethersfield founded by John Oldham and people from Massachusetts.
1635 Saybrook founded by John Winthrop, Jr. and fort erected by Lion Gardiner.
1636 Thomas Hooker and company journey from Newtown (Cambridge). Massachusetts to found Hartford.
1637 Pequot War
1638 The New Haven Colony
1639 Fundamental Orders of Connecticut adopted by Freemen of Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor; John Haynes chosen first Governor; George Fenwick second governor of Saybrook colony; Henry Whitfield helps establish the town of Guilford.
1631–1640 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
   
1643 Connecticut joins in forming the New England Confederation.
1644 Construction of the ”The Phantom Ship” authorized.
1646 New London founded by John Winthrop, Jr. (Ann Dudley Winthrop)
1650 Code of laws drawn up by Roger Ludlow and adopted by legislature.
1641–1650 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
   
1657 First iron works begun in New Haven (Branford).
1660 Regicides John Dixwell, William Goffe and Edward Whalley flee to New Haven
1651–1660 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
1611–1650 WRITERS, THINKERS AND ARTISTS OF THEIR AGE
   
1662 John Winthrop,Jr. obtains a charter for Connecticut.
1665 Union of New Haven and Connecticut Colonies completed. Matthew Griswold
1661–1670 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
   
1675–1676 Connecticut participates in King Philip's War which was fought in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
1671–1680 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
   
1687 Andros assumes rule over Connecticut; Charter Oak episode occurs.
1689 Connecticut resumes government under charter; French and Indian War begins.
1681–1690 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
   
1693 New York Governor Benjamin Fletcher confronts Connecticut Governor.
1698 Fitz-John Winthrop elected governor of Connecticut; Colchester settled.
1691-1700 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
1651–1700 WRITERS, THINKERS AND ARTISTS OF THEIR AGE
   
1701 Collegiate School authorized by General Assembly.
1702 Queen Anne’s War bypasses Connecticut.
1708 Saybrook Platform permits churches to join regional consociations.
1701–1710 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
   
1717 Collegiate School moves to New Haven; called Yale the next year.
1711–1720 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
   
1721–1730 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
   
1731 Disputed Connecticut/New York boundary line settled (confirmed in 1891).
1740 Manufacture of tinware begun at Berlin by Edward and William Pattison.
1740s Johnathan Edwards and the height of religious "Great Awakening".
1731–1740 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
   
1745 King George’s War (French & Indian War), Connecticut troops under Roger Wolcott help capture Louisburg.
1741–1750 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
1701–1750 WRITERS, THINKERS AND ARTISTS OF THEIR AGE
   
1755 Connecticut Gazette of New Haven, the Colony's first newspaper, printed by James Parker at New Haven; Nathan Hale born in Coventry.
1751–1760 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
   
1763 Brick State House erected on New Haven Green.
1764 Connecticut Courant, the oldest American newspaper in continuous existence to the present, launched at Hartford by Thomas Green.
1765 Sharp opposition to Stamp Act.
1766 Governor Thomas Fitch who refused to reject the Stamp Act defeated by William Pitkin.
1767 Thomas and Samuel Green launch newspaper which after many changes becomes New Haven Journal-Courier.
1769 Connecticut officially extends jurisdiction over Susquehanna Company area in Northern Pennsylvania.
1761–1770 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
   
1774 Silas Deane, Eliphiat Dyer, and Roger Sherman represent Connecticut at First Continental Congress.
1775 Several thousand militia rush to Massachusetts in "Lexington Alarm".
    By our charter, the Lexington Alarm signals the end of colonial history for the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut
1775 Benedict Arnold, Fort Ticonderoga first gun powder mill, Bunker Hill
1771–1775 AND ELSEWHERE IN HISTORY WORLDWIDE
1751–1775 WRITERS, THINKERS AND ARTISTS OF THEIR AGE
   
1776 Samuel Huntington, Roger Sherman, William Williams and Oliver Wolcott sign the Declaration of Independence; large majority of Connecticut people under Governor Jonathan Trumbull support the Declaration.


APPENDIX

The Constitution State
The Theological Disputes
The American Colonies
The Declaration of Independence
The Indians of Connecticut
The Colonial Military
The Colonial Schools
The Flags and Seals of Connecticut
The Colonial Towns of Connecticut