Where can I find my ancestors in the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

Look for ancestors in their respective town records. The original four Massachusetts Bay Colony counties were Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, and old Norfolk (mostly in New Hampshire ), all formed in 1643. In 1680 New Hampshire was separated, and in 1820 Maine was split-off from Massachusetts.

What are some interesting facts about the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

The following are some facts about the Massachusetts Bay Colony: What Type of Colony was the Massachusetts Bay? The Massachusetts Bay Colony was a charter colony. This meant that the administration of the colony was elected by the colonists and the colony was allowed to self-govern, as long as its laws aligned with those of England.

What happened in the 1640s in Massachusetts Bay Colony?

By the mid-1640s Massachusetts Bay Colony had grown to more than 20,000 inhabitants. Increasing estrangement between the colony and England resulted in the annulment of the company’s charter in 1684 and the substitution of royal government under a new charter granted in 1691.

What happened to the Massachusetts Bay Colony after the restoration?

The Massachusetts Bay Colony continued to thrive up until the Restoration of England. It had become a successful independent commonwealth largely due to the internal strife within England. That changed during the reign of King Charles II.

How did the Massachusetts Bay Company get its charter?

In 1629 the Massachusetts Bay Company had obtained from King Charles I a charter empowering the company to trade and colonize in New England between the Charles and Merrimack rivers.

Do Massachusetts company members have to stay in England to meet?

When the Massachusetts Bay Colony charter was issued, it neglected to say that the company members had to stay in England to conduct their meetings.

What was the original name of the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

♦ Haverhill, Massachusetts, settled by Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1641, originally named Pentucket. More Puritans continued to travel over from England and the number of colonies in New England expanded to a total of four: Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Haven.

What was the Antinomian crisis in Massachusetts Bay Colony?

During the first decade of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, several political crises occurred, unfolding simultaneously, concerning the way religion was practiced in the colony. One of those is known as the “Antinomian Crisis” which resulted in the departure of Anne Hutchinson (1591–1643) from Massachusetts Bay.

When did the Massachusetts Bay Company move to New England?

In August of 1629, the company held a series of meetings in Cambridge where they voted to take advantage of this omission and move the entire company to New England, according to the book The Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Colony: