Is the chief political division of
New England and one of the original thirteen
United States.
It lies for the most part between 40° and 42° 45′ N. lat., and 70° 30′ and 73° 30′ W. long.
The States of
Vermont and
New Hampshire lie immediately on the north; on the east lies the
Atlantic Ocean, giving it a sea-frontage of about 250 miles; to the south lie the
Atlantic Ocean and the States of
Rhode Island and
Connecticut.
Immediately on its western boundaries lie
Rhode Island, New York, and
New Hampshire.
It extends east and west 190 miles, and 50 miles north and south, with a projection at the southeast, and a lesser one at the northeast, that increases the breadth to about 110 miles. Area, 8,315 square miles, in fourteen counties.
Population, 1890, 2,238,943; 1900, 2,805,346.
Capital,
Boston.
Capt. Bartholomew Gosnold, sailing from
Falmouth, England, after a passage of forty-nine days, discovers land in lat. 43° 30′ N......May 14, 1602
He discovers a “mighty headland,” which, from the quantity of codfish caught in the vicinity, is called
Cape Cod; the voyagers land; this is the first spot upon which the first known English discoverers of
Massachusetts set foot......May 15, 1602
Martin Pring, in the
Speedwell, of sixty tons, and
William Browne, in the
Discoverer, of twenty-six tons, make discoveries along the
New England coast......1603
Capt. George Weymouth, with twenty-eight men, in the
Archangel, explores the coast of
Massachusetts and
Maine, also the
Penobscot and
Kennebec rivers......1605
Henry Hudson discovers the
Hudson River......1609
Capt. John Smith explores the coast from the
Penobscot River to
Cape Cod, and names the country
New England......1614
Capt. John Smith publishes his
Description of New England, to invite permanent settlements there......1616
A disease among the Indians nearly depopulates the
New England coast......1616-18
“Great patent of
New England” passes the seals......Nov. 3, 1620
[This patent, which has scarcely a parallel in the history of the world, covered a territory extending from 40° to 48° of north latitude, and in length from the
Atlantic to the
Pacific Ocean.]
Speedwell, of sixty tons, is purchased in
Holland to take part of the
English emigrants there to
England, and thence across the
Atlantic......1620
Leaves
Delft,
Holland, for
Southampton, England......July 22, 1620
Is found to be unfitted for a voyage across the
Atlantic and is dismissed......Aug. 21, 1620
Mayflower sails from
Plymouth Harbor, having on board 101 passengers......Sept. 6, 1620
After a stormy passage of sixty-three days sights the cliffs of
Cape Cod and comes to anchor in
Cape Cod Harbor......Nov. 9, 1620
Peregrine White born on board the
Mayflower in
Cape Cod Harbor.
The first white child born in
New England......November, 1620
Mayflower sails from
Cape Cod Dec. 15, and anchors at
Plymouth......Dec. 16, 1620
First death at
Plymouth,
Richard Butteridge......Dec. 21, 1620
Passengers leave the ship and land at
Plymouth Rock......Dec. 21, 1620
Storehouse erected at
Plymouth, 20 feet square with a thatched roof......Dec. 24-30, 1620
Colony begins to erect separate houses......Jan. 9, 1621
Storehouse takes fire and nearly burns down......Jan. 14, 1621
Mrs. Rose Standish, the wife of Miles Standish, dies......Jan. 29, 1621
Miles Standish made captain with military authority......Feb. 17, 1621
William White dies......Feb. 21, 1621
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Samoset, the first Indian to visit the colony, saying, “Welcome, Englishmen!” ......March 16, 1621
Massasoit, the grand sachem of the Wampanoags, with about sixty of his warriors, visits the colony......March 22, 1621
Treaty between the colony and
Massasoit, which is faithfully observed for fifty-five years......March 22, 1621
John Carver unanimously confirmed as governor of the colony for the new civil year......March 23, 1621
Forty-four deaths in the colony in four months to......April 1, 1621
Mayflower sails for
England on her return voyage......April 5, 1621
Governor Carver dies......April 5, 1621
William Bradford elected governor,
Isaac Allerton deputy......1621
Susanna, the widow of
William White, marries
Edward Winslow, the first marriage in the colony......May 12, 1621
Twenty acres of Indian corn and beans are planted and six acres of barley and pease by the colony in the spring of......1621
First duel in
New England was fought between
Edward Dotey and
Edward Leister, servants of
Stephen Hopkins, with sword and dagger; they were sentenced to have their head and heels tied together, and thus remain for twenty-four hours without food or drink; after an hour's endurance they were relieved on promises and pleadings......June 18, 1621
First Thanksgiving in the colony......September, 1621
Village of
Plymouth contains at this time seven dwelling-houses and four other buildings......September, 1621
Capt. Miles Standish, with nine
Plymouth colonists and three
Indians, explores the country about
Massachusetts Bay......October, 1621
Fortune, a vessel of fifty-five tons, bringing thirty-six passengers, arrives at
Plymouth......Nov. 11, 1621
The same vessel, laden with beaver and other skins and lumber, valued at $2,400, the first remittance from New Plymouth, sails on her return voyage......Dec. 3, 1621
