New England Confederation

Last updated

United Colonies of New England
1643–1686
English Red Ensign 1620.svg
New England 1660.jpg
New England in 1660
StatusDisestablished
CapitalNone, meeting place rotated between: Boston, Hartford, New Haven, Plymouth [1]
Common languages English, Massachusett, Mi'kmaq
Religion
Congregationalism
Government Directorial confederation
Commissioners 
 1643 (first)
William Collier
Thomas Dudley
Edward Winslow
Theophilus Eaton
George Fenwick
Thomas Gregson
Edward Hopkins
John Winthrop [2]
 1686 (last)
John Allyn
William Bradford IV
Thomas Hinckley
Samuel Nowell
William Stoughton
John Talcott
John Walley [3]
LegislatureNone (legislative power was reserved for individual colonial assemblies)
Historical era Great Migration, British colonization of the Americas, American Indian Wars, Anglo-Dutch Wars
 Established
1643
 Disestablished
1686

The United Colonies of New England, commonly known as the New England Confederation, was a confederal alliance of the New England colonies of Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Saybrook (Connecticut), and New Haven formed in May 1643, during the English Civil War. Its primary purpose was to unite the Puritan colonies in support of the Congregational church, and for defense against the Native Americans and the Dutch colony of New Netherland. [4] It was the first milestone on the long road to colonial unity and was established as a direct result of a war that started between the Indigenous Mohegan and Narragansett nations. Its charter provided for the return of fugitive criminals and indentured servants, and served as a forum for resolving inter-colonial disputes. In practice, none of the goals were accomplished. [5]

Contents

The confederation was weakened in 1654 after Massachusetts Bay refused to join an expedition against New Netherland during the First Anglo-Dutch War, although it regained importance during King Philip's War in 1675. It was dissolved after numerous colonial charters were revoked in the early 1680s.

John Quincy Adams remarked at a meeting of the Massachusetts Historical Society on the 200th anniversary of the Confederation's founding:

The New England confederacy was destined to a life of less than forty years' duration. Its history, like that of other confederacies, presents a record of incessant discord--of encroachments by the most powerful party upon the weaker members, and of disregard, by all the separate members, of the conclusions adopted by the whole body. Still the main purpose of the union was accomplished. [6]

Treaty

The full name of the 1643 treaty was "The Articles of Confederation between the Plantations under the Government of the Massachusetts, the Plantations under the Government of New Plymouth, the Plantations under the Government of Connecticut, and the Government of New Haven with the Plantations in Combination therewith". The colonies of New England were expanding territorially and the populations growing, and their contact was increasing with other European colonial settlements, as well as with surrounding Native American tribes. New England colonial leaders sought a way allowing the individual colonies to coordinate a collective defense of New England. The New England leaders also felt that they were unique among the American colonies, and they hoped to band together to preserve their Puritan values. The treaty calls on the New England colonies to act as a nation, saying that they share a way of life and religion. This alliance was meant to be a perpetual mode of defense and communication among the colonies themselves and with any foreign entities. [7]

The Articles of Confederation of the United Colonies of New England, 1643 NewEnglandConfederation.png
The Articles of Confederation of the United Colonies of New England, 1643

The treaty outlining the alliance contained the following clauses, in summary: [8]

The Massachusetts General Court and the commissioners from Saybrook Colony and New Haven Colony agreed to the treaty on May 19, 1643. The General Court of the Plymouth Colony agreed to it on August 29. [9]

Signatories

Massachusetts Bay

Connecticut Colony

New Haven Colony

Plymouth Colony

Commissioners

Commissioners [11]
YearMeeting Place Connecticut River Massachusetts Bay New Haven Plymouth
1643 Boston George Fenwick, Edward Hopkins Thomas Dudley, John Winthrop Theophilus Eaton, Thomas Gregson, Richard Malbon William Collier, Edward Winslow
1644 Hartford John Brown, George Fenwick, Edward Hopkins Simon Bradstreet, William Hathorne Edward Winslow, Theophilus EatonThomas Gregson
1645BostonJohn Brown, George Fenwick, Edward HopkinsHerbert Pelham, John Winthrop Theophilus Eaton, Stephen Goodyear Thomas Prence
1646 New Haven John Brown, John Haynes,Edward HopkinsHerbert PelhemTheophilius Eaton, Stephen Goodyear John Endicott, Timothy Hatherit
1647BostonJohn Brown, George Fenwick, Edward Hopkins, John Mason, William Whiting†Simon BradstreetTheophilus Eaton, Stephen Goodyear William Bradford, John Endicott
1648 Plymouth John Brown, George Fenwick, Edward Hopkins, Roger Ludlow Simon BradstreetJohn Astwood, Theophilus Eaton William Bradford, John Endicott
1649BostonJohn Brown, Edward Hopkins, Thomas WellesSimon Bradstreet, Thomas DudleyJohn Astwood, Theophilus EatonWilliam Bradford, Thomas Prence
1650 Hartford John Brown, John Haynes, Edward HopkinsSimon Bradstreet, William HathorneTheophilus Eaton, Stephen GoodyearN/A
1651New HavenJohn Brown, Edward Hopkins, John LudlowSimon Bradstreet, William HathorneTheophilus Eaton, Stephen GoodyearTimothy Hatherly
1652PlymouthJohn Brown, John Cullick, John LudlowSimon Bradstreet, WIlliam HathorneJohn Astwood, Theophilus Eaton William Bradford
1653BostonJohn Brown, John Cullick, John LudlowSimon Bradstreet, William HathorneJohn Astwood, Theophilus EatonThomas Prence
1654HartfordJohn Brown, John Mason, John Webster Simon Bradstreet, Daniel Denison Theophilus Eaton, Samuel Mason, Francis Newman Thomas Prence
1655New HavenJohn Brown, John Cullick, John MasonSimon Bradstreet, Daniel DenisonTheophilus Eaton James Cudworth
1656PlymouthJohn Mason, John Talcott the elderSimon Bradstreet, Daniel DenisonTheophilus Eaton William Bradford, Thomas Prence
1657BostonJohn Talcott the elderSimon Bradstreet, Daniel DenisonTheophilus EatonJames Cudworth, Thomas Prence
1658BostonJohn Talcott the elder, Thomas Welles, John Winthrop the Younger.Simon BradstreetTheophilus Eaton, Samuel Mason, Francis Newman John Endicott, Thomas Prence, Josiah Winslow
1659HartfordJohn Winthrop the YoungerSimon Bradstreet, Daniel DenisonSamuel Mason, Francis NewmanThomas Southworth, Josiah Winslow
1660New HavenMatthew Allyn, John Winthrop the YoungerSimon Bradstreet, Daniel DenisonSamuel Mason, Francis NewmanThomas Southworth, Josiah WInslow
1661PlymouthJohn Mason, Samuel WillisSimon Bradstreet, Daniel DenisonN/AThomas Prence, Thomas Southworth
1662BostonJohn Talcott the younger, Samuel WillisSimon Bradstreet, Daniel DenisonN/AThomas Prence, Josiah Winslow
1663BostonJohn Talcott the younger, John Winthrop the YoungerSimon Bradstreet, Thomas Danforth N/AThomas Prence, Josiah Winslow
1664HartfordMatthew Allyn, Samuel WillisSimon Bradstreet, Thomas DanforthEdward JonesThomas Southworth, Josiah Winslow
1665No meetingNew Haven Colony absorbed into the Connecticut Colony
1666No meeting
1667HartfordEdward Leete, Samuel WillisThomas Danforth, John LeverettThomas Southworth
1668N/AEdward Leete, Samuel Willis, John Winthrop the YoungerThomas Danforth, John Leverett Thomas Prence, Thomas Southworth, Josiah Winslow
1669N/AJames Richards, John Talcott the younger, John Winthrop the YoungerSimon Bradstreet, Thomas Danforth, William Hathorne, John LeverettThomas Prence, Thomas Southworth, Josiah Winslow
1670N/AJames Richards, John Talcott the younger, Samuel WillisSimon Bradstreet, Thomas Danforth, William Hathorne, John LeverettThomas Prence, Josiah Winslow
1671N/AJames Richards, John Talcott the younger, Samuel WillisSimon Bradstreet, Thomas Danforth, Daniel Dension, William HathorneThomas Prence, Josiah WInslow
1672PlymouthEdward Leete, James Richards, John Talcott the younger, Wait-Still Winthrop Simon Bradstreet, Thomas Danforth, William Hathorne, John Leverett Thomas Hinckley, Thomas Prence, Josiah WInslow
1673HartfordJohn Allyn, Edward Leete, John Talcott the youngerThomas Danforth, Daniel Denison, William Hathorne. William Stoughton William Bradford the younger, Thomas Hinckley, Josiah Winslow
1674N/AJohn Allynm, James Richards, John Talcott the youngerSimon Bradstreet, Thomas Danforth, Daniel Denison, William StoughtonWilliam Bradford the younger, Thomas Hinckley, Josiah Winslow
1675BostonJohn Allyn, James Richards, John Talcott the younger, John Winthrop the younger, Wait-Still WinthropSimon Bradstreet, Thomas Danforth, Daniel Denison, William StoughtonWilliam Bradford the younger, Thomas Hinckley, Josiah Winslow
1676BostonJohn Allyn, James Richards, John Talcott the younger, Wait-Still WinthropThomas Danforth, William StoughtonWilliam Bradford the younger, Thomas Hinckley, Josiah Winslow
1677N/AJohn Allyn, James Richards, John Talcott the youngerSimon Bradstreet, Thomas Danforth, Joseph Dudley, William StoughtonWilliam Bradford the younger, Thomas Hinckley, Josiah Winslow
1678HartfordJohn Allyn, Edward LeeteThomas Danforth, Joseph DudleyWilliam Bradford the younger, James Cudworth, Thomas Hinckley, Josiah Winslow
1679BostonJohn Allyn, James RichardsThomas Danforth, Humphrey Davy, Daniel Denison, Joseph DudleyJames Cudworth, Thomas Hinckley, Josiah Winslow
1680N/AJohn Allyn, James RichardsJoseph Dudley, William Stoughton William Bradford the younger, Thomas Hinckley, Josiah Winslow
1681BostonJohn Allyn, Robert Treat Joseph Dudley, William StoughtonWilliam Bradford the younger, James Cudworth, Thomas Hinckley
1682N/AJohn Allyn, Robert Treat Peter Bulkeley, Elisha Cooke, Samuel Nowell, William StoughtonWilliam Bradford the younger, Thomas Hinckley, Daniel Smith
1683N/AJohn Allyn, John Talcott the youngerPeter Bulkeley, Elisha Cooke, Samuel Nowell, William StoughtonWilliam Bradford the younger, Thomas Hinckley, Daniel Smith
1684HartfordJohn Allyn, John Talcott the youngerPeter Bulkeley, Elisha Cooke, Samuel Nowell, William StoughtonWilliam Bradford the younger, Daniel Smith, John Walley
1685N/AN/ASamuel Nowell, William StoughtonJohn Walley
1686N/AJohn Allyn, John Mason, William Pitkin, John Talcott the youngerSamuel Nowell, William StoughtonWilliam Bradford the younger, John Walley, Thomas Hinckley
1687The New England Colonies had their charters revoked. New England was then governed by the Dominion of New England, a direct rule government
1688Dominion of New England / Due to the Glorious Revolution and Boston Revolt the Dominion of New England was dissolved and colonial charters were restored
1689BostonWilliam PitkinElisha Cooke, Thomas DanforthWilliam VaughnJohn Walley, Thomas Hinckley
† Whiting was elected but died before the session could take place
"N/A" refers to where information is not known.
Although it was customary to have a colony send two commissioners to sessions, many colonies sent alternate or replacement Commissioners which is the reason for some entries to have multiple names.

See also

References

  1. Ward 1961, p. 63
  2. Ward 1961, p. 400-11
  3. Ward 1961, p. 400-11
  4. William Henry Carpenter, Timothy Shay Arthur. The history of Connecticut: from its earliest settlement to the present time (1872), ch. 5
  5. John Andrew Doyle. English Colonies in America: The Puritan colonies (1889), ch. 8
  6. Quincy Adams 1843, p. 44-45
  7. "Avalon Project – the Articles of Confederation of the United Colonies of New England; May 19, 1643".
  8. "Avalon Project – the Articles of Confederation of the United Colonies of New England; May 19, 1643".
  9. "Avalon Project – the Articles of Confederation of the United Colonies of New England; May 19, 1643".
  10. Quincy Adams 1843, p. 17
  11. Ward 1961, p. 400-11

Sources

42°01′49″N72°08′12″W / 42.03028°N 72.13667°W / 42.03028; -72.13667