Embedded Files
River crossings presented the greatest danger for travelers on the Old Connecticut Path. Using a treasure map, Ellen Larned's "Map of Ancient Windham County", the approach to crossing the Quinebaug River in Thompson, CT is explored. To view the video exploration, click on the picture or the link below.http://youtu.be/dWsDZAD0MnkThe Old Connecticut Path crossed the wilderness from the Mass Bay to the Connecticut valley. The earliest English travelers faced a journey unlike any they would have encountered in the lives in England. In England, roads had been laid and rivers spanned by bridges. The wilderness traversed by the Old Connecticut Path held challenges unimagined by the Puritans. The greatest challenge they faced was the baptism when stepping from the safety of the banks to step into the flowing river water. The Quinebaug River was one of their great challenges. There were no bridges to cross prior to 1718 when the bridge at Fabyan was constructed.
The Nipmuck guides were used to hardships along the paths. It is reported that men would march across freezing rivers in water up to their necks without concern. This would not have been expected of Puritan travelers along the path to Connecticut. While they were used to walking as a normal part of their lives in England, wading in waters up to their neck to cross a river would be beyond anything they could imagine. A factor beyond their lack of experience with such challenging crossings would be seen in the daily dress of the Puritans.
The migration to Connecticut by groups like that lead by Thomas Hooker in 1636 included whole families including children and grandparents. Their safety required a route that would minimize the risks for injury or loss of life. Fording rivers and streams would require careful selection of the best places to safely cross. In our modern age, it is hard to imagine what their fears may have been as they faced uncertain waters.The Puritans dressed in plain, modest clothes in accordance with both their religious beliefs and with the practical need for warmth and comfort. It is unlikely that they would shed the multiple layers of woolen and linen clothing covering them from head to toe when crossing the rivers and stream along the path. Beyond the discomfort a dunking in the river would cause, the wet woolen clothes would become extremely heavy adding to the risk of struggles, injuries and drowning.
Stepping from the bank of the river into to water would literally require a leap of faith. As we stand on the edge of the Quinebaug River today, it is hard to imagine the courage and faith necessary to take that step. As you watch the "Step into Quinebaug" video (left), try to put yourself in the place of a Puritan man or woman stepping off the edge of the river . Imagine children and grandparents stepping off into river current. The dangers of crossing rivers like the Quinebaug literally put lives on the line. As you watch the video, try to see yourself taking the steps that those families took on their journey along the Old Connecticut Path.On the "Scary Scale", the river flow shown in the video reflects the level after a fall tropical storm. The level seen is moderate compared to the ferocity of the spring runoff seen in March-April. Early travel followed the seasons. Long distance travel along the Old Connecticut Path was timed for late spring, summer and early fall. Thomas Hooker and his congregation left Cambridge on the last day in May 1636. The Quinebaug River they faced in early June would have been much like that pictured below.
By June, the water level recedes leaving a more gentle current with shallow waters flowing over a firm gravel bed. The low banks on both sides of the river allow easy entrance to the river and to safely climbing onto the opposite bank.The waters' force during the spring runoff and during tropical storms can change the shape of the river. Sandbars and channels can be moved. The best places to cross the river could change from season to season as a result.
The Old Connecticut Path leads to an area along the Quinebaug River where alternative places to cross could be found depending on the changes in the river. Traveling from Massachusetts towards Woodstock, the Path would likely approach the Quinebaug River following the Shumway Brook in Thompson. From the place where Shumway Brook meets the Quinebaug, there is a meadow running a half mile along the river to Brickyard Road. There are multiple places to cross the river within this area.Click on the picture (right) to enlarge the view of the area in Thompson where the Old Connecticut Path would have crossed the Quinebaug River.Using Ellen Larned's 1874 map of "Ancient Windham County" along with clues from Harral Ayres' records, it is possible to reconstruct the likely route of the Old Connecticut Path from the French River crossing in Dudley, MA through Thompson to the Quinebaug River. Larned's map is compared with the results of field exporation using modern maps and gps. The route of the Old Connecticut Path recorded by Larned follows the east side of Shumway Brook from the Massachusetts/Connecticut line. The dashed green line reflects the route of the Oxford-Woodstock Road that came into use following King Philps War and the settlement of Woodstock in 1686. The Fabyan Bridge across the Quinebaug was not built until 1718. Prior to that time, there were no bridges across the river.
The map (below) displays Larned's map along with a modern topographical map displaying the route that may be followed today.
The route of the Old Connecticut Path traced by Ellene Larned leads to an area along the Quinebaug River where fording places could be found that were safe and could be altered depending on changes in the river. Historic and modern topographical maps show a network of roads and paths leading up from the west bank of the river and on to Woodstock.
The area running down the Quinebaug River at Shumway Brook to West Thompson appears to have been a focal point for other trails converging from east/west and north/south. It may be possible to connect the Old Connecticut Path with other historic paths (e.g. Mendon Path, Providence Path) in this area. This awaits further research and exploration.
Walking Along the Quinebaug
It is possible to walk along the west bank of the Quinebaug River as seen in the "Quinebaug River Crossing" video. The trail within the Corps of Engineers property is not marked, but follows cart roads and Auger Brook. A walk along the river leads to the places where it would be possible to cross the river today. You can also enjoy the beauty of the cascade along Auger Brook and visit the old mill site at the top of the falls.
GPS coordinates that may be used to guide your walk along the Quinebaug River are available in the file Quinebaug River Thompson 100711.gpx file. Click on the link to download the gpx file for use with a gps device or with Google Earth.
BACK TO 2.001 Guide to Crossing the Last Green Valley: West Sutton, MA to Tolland, CT
Page updated
Report abuse