Once Upon a Time in Connecticut

"Once Upon a Time in Connecticut" by Caroline Clifford Newton is a historical narrative that presents the early days of Connecticut from multiple points of view, chronicling pivotal events, influential people, and everyday life for both colonists and Native Americans. It recounts the beginnings of settlements like Hartford and New Haven along with key historical moments, such as the Pequot War. The narrative begins by emphasizing Connecticut's deep history through stories of important individuals and events, like the Charter Oak's demise and the arrival of English settlers under leaders such as Thomas Hooker. The beginning lays the groundwork for future chapters by exploring daily colonial life, interactions with Indigenous peoples, and the formation of government as settlers worked to build a self-governing colony, underscoring the challenges and hardships faced by the early colonial community in the face of conflict and the struggle for survival.