MOHE'GAN (dialect ic form of Mohican, from which tribe the Moliegan were originally an offshoot). An Algonquian tribe formerly re siding chiefly upon the Thames River in eastern Connecticut, and claiming dominion by conquest over several smaller adjoining tribes, not all of which, how0Ver, admitted the claim. They seem to have been an eastern extension (rota the :Mahican of the Iludson, while the warlike Pequot (q.v.) were in turn a branch of the Mohegan. At the period of the first settlement of Connecti cut two last named tribes formed one body, under the rule of Sassacus. Uneas. a subordinate ehieftaim rebelled against him :Ind assumed a distinct authority as the leader of a small band in the Thames, near the present Norwich. This band became known in history as the Alohegan, while those remaining with Sassaens were distin guished as Pcqiiot. In the struggle between the Pilled and the colonists 'Linean aided the Eng lish, and in consequence on the destruction of the Pequot tribe in 1637 the greater part of the sur vivors were placed under the dominion of the .1Iohegan chief, who thus obtained control of the territory of both tribes. lie took such care to
strendhen his power with the English that after the death of Philip in 1676 the Mohegan were the only important tribe remaining in Southern New England. As the settlements ex tended they sold most of their lands. retaining, only a small reservation on the Thames River. in New London C'onnty, Connecticut, centring about their village. L1lohegati. The villages of Croton and Stonington. occmpied chiefly by the remnants of the conquered Pequot, were eonsidered also as under Mohegan jurisdiet ion. They rapidly dwindled when surrounded by the whites• many joining the kindred mission bands at Seaticook and Brotherton in New York. The rest tinued to reside at Mohegan until now they are so mixed with negro and white blood that they have practieally lost their identity. although they still retain official State recognition. In 1705 they numbered 750 at Im'gan. reduced In •.0ti in 1774 and 69 in any larger number reported later being due to foreign admixture.