The First 7 Colonies Timeline: Part 1
To Colonize: How were the colonies established in the new world?
Have you ever heard of Jamestown, or perhaps Plymouth? Have you heard or read about New Hampshire and Maryland? If so, what do you know about these places? Could you point these places out on the map below?
Settlers from the London Company founded the first colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. The original purpose of the colony was to make money in the New World.
Check out the timelines and facts about the first of the colonies founded and established in early America.
1607
The Jamestown Settlement
In 1607, Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement in North America and was part of the Southern group of colonies. It was on land near the James River, which is present-day Williamsburg, Virginia. The people who started Jamestown were a part of the Virginia Company of London. The settlement of Jamestown was named after King James I of England, who initially permitted the 105 men to start the colony. They faced many hardships and problems and the first few years were very hard. As a result, many colonists died of sickness and lack of food.
Captain John Smith was a leader in the Jamestown colony. He is most famous for the time he spent with Pocahontas, a Native American who helped the colonists and Native Americans understand each other. Pocahontas was the daughter of the chief of the Powhatan confederacy.
1609 & 1624
The Native Americans & John Rolfe
In 1609, the Native Americans stopped sharing food with the Jamestown settlers and battles between the groups ensued. These battles ended with many of the colonists dying, so very few people were left to help the colony expand. In 1610, more colonists arrived from England, one of whom was John Rolfe, a businessman, and tobacco farmer. Rolfe began to grow tobacco in the colony, which he then sold to England. In 1614, John Rolfe married Pocahontas, which may have created eight years of peace between the colonists and the Native Americans.
While the money from the tobacco crops helped the colonists survive, farming was not easy. The colonists wanted help with growing their crops and other jobs, which led to the first slaves from Africa arriving in Jamestown in 1619. In 1624, Jamestown became a royal colony and was officially named Virginia. Jamestown was the capital of Virginia until 1699 when the capital was moved to Williamsburg. On June 25, 1788, Virginia became the tenth state to join the United States.
1623
The New Hampshire Colony
John Mason, a man from Britain, was given a large piece of land by the British Council to start the New Hampshire colony, which was named after Hampshire County where he grew up. While Mason died before his plan to start New Hampshire would come to pass, Mason’s plans helped others settle the new colony, which was formed in 1623. Just like the settlers in Jamestown, the settlers of New Hampshire faced many difficulties. The geographic location of New Hampshire made it a cold place to live, but one good thing about the cold weather was that diseases did not survive well.
The New Hampshire colony was known for fishing, cattle ranching, potato farming, and building ships. The colonists grew pumpkins, squash, beans, rye, corn, and wheat as crops. The colonists also used whale oil to help light their lamps. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to join the United States.
1634
The Maryland Colony
In 1634, the Roman Catholics founded the colony of Maryland. King Charles I of England allowed Lord Baltimore to initially establish the colony. He named the colony Maryland after the King’s wife, Queen Henrietta Maria (Mary). In 1649, Maryland passed the first American law on religious toleration, which stated that everyone has to be nice to each other and show respect to one another, even if their religious beliefs are different.
By 1634, Maryland became one of the few territories of England to be predominately Catholic. Their settlement became known as St. Mary’s and is currently the fourth oldest permanent British settlement in America. On April 28, 1788, Maryland became the seventh state to join the United States.
1691*
Plymouth & The Massachusetts Colony
n 1630, the Puritans founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Puritans were a group of people who did not agree with some of what the Church of England believed. Like the Pilgrims, the Puritans wanted to find somewhere to live where they could practice their faith as they wanted.
King Charles I, allowed a group of Puritans, called the Massachusetts Bay Company, to settle in America. They set out with more than a thousand people in 1630 to establish a colony that was initially led by John Winthrop. Through his leadership, the settlers set up their own government and several towns — one of which was Boston. Over time, the King of England grew angry with the settlers as he never wanted for them to start their own government. The King decided he would create a new colony that he alone would control. In 1691, a new Massachusetts Bay Colony was created that combined the old Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Plymouth Colony. This new colony could not start its own government and was run by the English government.
*The 1630 charter for the colony lapsed in 1684, and the substitution of royal government under a new charter was granted in 1691. The charter of 1691 merged the Plymouth colony and Maine into the Massachusetts Bay Colony. See also Plymouth. Hence, the reason for the two colony charter dates.
all of these events led to the Boston Tea Party and later war with England!
The early colonists worked hard to start their new lives and their new settlements. They held many jobs and served in multiple positions within their community. They held family and government roles and they earned money as fur traders, shipbuilders, millers, bakers, blacksmiths, and wheelwrights.
Click on the image wheel below to learn more about each job.
