The story of the New England settlements diverges sharply from the early establishment of the Old Dominion in Jamestown, Virginia. While the London Company focused on resource extraction, the motivations driving the initial attempts and subsequent successes in the northern regions, granted to the Ferdinando Plymouth Company, were rooted in different ideals. These formative years of the New England settlements laid the groundwork for a distinct American identity built on religious conviction and nascent self-governance.
Early Explorations and the Naming of New England
In 1607, the same year Jamestown was founded, the Plymouth Company attempted a colony at the mouth of the Kennebec River in Maine. However, the harsh winter proved too severe, forcing the frozen settlers to return to England. Despite this initial setback, Sir Ferdinando Gorges, the determined governor of Plymouth, continued to champion efforts to colonize the region. His unwavering resolve was reminiscent of Sir Walter Raleigh’s earlier endeavors. In 1614, Gorges dispatched Captain John Smith, a pivotal figure in Jamestown’s early days, to survey the coast of what was then known as “northern Virginia.” Smith meticulously mapped the coastline from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia, christening the territory “New England.” His map introduced enduring place names such as Cambridge, the Charles River, Plymouth, and Cape Ann. By 1620, Gorges had successfully persuaded King James I to issue a new grant of this land to a consortium of nobles and gentlemen, forming the Council for New England.
The Plymouth Colony and the Pilgrims’ Enduring Spirit
Just weeks after the Council for New England’s formation, a group of approximately 100 Separatists, known to history as the Pilgrims, arrived aboard the Mayflower. Unlike previous ventures, these colonists were not sent by a company seeking profit or a passage to the Indies; they came voluntarily, seeking to establish homes in a wilderness where they could freely worship God according to their conscience. These “Independents” had separated from the Church of England, which they felt retained too many “idolatrous” Roman Catholic practices like vestments, altars, and elaborate ceremonies.
During this era, religion was inextricably linked with state authority, and rulers enforced uniformity in creed and worship to maintain control. For those courageous enough to stand by their convictions, three perilous paths existed: enduring persecution, armed rebellion, or seeking refuge beyond the king’s reach. Many of these separatist congregations had found temporary solace in Holland in 1608, yet they feared assimilation and the loss of their English heritage for their children. Determined to preserve their cultural and religious identity, they secured permission from the London Company to settle in America, though their pilot ultimately guided them to the shores of Cape Cod, where they landed on December 21, 1620.
Remarkably, before disembarking, and despite lacking a formal land right or governmental authority, the Pilgrims drafted and signed the Mayflower Compact in the ship’s cabin. This document, a pledge to form and obey a self-governing body, represented the first instance of complete self-government in American history, preceding even the assembly convened in Jamestown. The initial winter of 1620-1621 was incredibly harsh, yet when the Mayflower returned to England in the spring, not a single colonist opted to leave. Their resolve was famously encapsulated by one leader: “It is not with us as with men whom small things can discourage.”
The Plymouth Colony grew slowly and never received a royal charter, operating instead through the democratic institution of the town meeting, which was technically illegal in the eyes of the English court. However, its small size and quiet nature allowed it to remain largely undisturbed by the Stuart monarchy. While politically modest, Plymouth’s moral and religious influence on the burgeoning New England settlements was profound. The Pilgrims demonstrated that unwavering industry and courage could indeed conquer the challenging Massachusetts landscape, proving that fervent devotion to an ideal could transform a wilderness into a home. The colony bravely defended itself against Native American attacks, suffering significant losses during King Philip’s War in 1675, and was eventually annexed by the more powerful Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691.
The Massachusetts Bay Colony: Puritan Idealism and Growth
Concurrently with Plymouth’s growth, Gorges and other members of the Council for New England continued attempts to establish various settlements. By March 1629, approximately 50 scattered outposts dotted the shores and islands of Boston Harbor.
Founding of Massachusetts Bay
A pivotal moment arrived in 1628 when a group of Puritan gentlemen secured a land grant from the Council, laying the foundation for the largest and most influential English settlement in America: the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The following year, King Charles I granted them a royal charter, establishing them as a political entity governed by an elected governor, deputy governor, and eighteen
