Four More Colonies

New Hampshire:

In 1623, David Thomson and Edward and Thomas Hilton went to the New World to establish a fishing colony at the mouth of the Piscataqua River in what is now New Hampshire. Free land, provisions and ships were up for grabs with the understanding that the crown controlled everything.

Delaware:

A charter was sent in 1637 under the grant of the Swedish child Queen Christina, led by Captain Peter Minuit who founded Delaware in 1638. Delaware was ruled by the Swedish for some time, but ultimately their ruling ended. The crown took over the area, though there was a dispute as to who should govern it. William Penn and Lord Baltimore of the province of Maryland took over. This lasted among their heirs until their independence from the British Empire in 1776.

Connecticut:

In the year 1614, Dutch traders landed in Connecticut near what is now Hartford. By 1633 these traders had purchased land from the local natives of the Pequot tribe. In 1636 Reverend Thomas Hooker founded the town of Hartford. During these years many settlers had set up homes along the rivers, purchasing plots of land from the Mehegan Indians. Hartford became the center of trade and later government. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was written by Hooker, John Haynes and Roger Ludlow. It was adopted in 1639 at the same time John Haynes was elected governor. This document was said to be the basis for the United States Constitution.

Pennsylvania:

This land was given to William Penn in 1681, to offset a debt owed to his father. In 1682 the “Frame of Government” was put into effect, a document outlining their governing body. In the same year the city of Philadelphia was planned out. You will hear more about the importance of Philadelphia later on.