Plymouth Colony

Quick Facts: Who was Plymouth Colony?

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Plymouth Colony

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The first permanent English colony in New England, founded by Separatists.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Plymouth Colony (sometimes spelled Plimouth) was the first permanent English colony in New England, founded in 1620, and the third permanent English colony in America, after Newfoundland and the Jamestown Colony. It was settled by the passengers on the Mayflower at a location that had previously been surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement served as the capital of the colony and developed as the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts. At its height, Plymouth Colony occupied most of what is now the southeastern portion of Massachusetts; it was approximately coterminous with the combined territories of Plymouth, Barnstable, and Bristol Counties, all of which were originally established by the General Court of the Plymouth Colony. Many of the people and events surrounding Plymouth Colony have become part of American folklore, including the American tradition of Thanksgiving and the monument of Plymouth Rock.

Career & Major Achievements

Plymouth Colony was founded by a group of Protestant Separatists initially known as the Brownist Emigration, who came to be known as the Pilgrims. The colony established a treaty with Wampanoag chief Massasoit which helped to ensure its success; in this, they were aided by Squanto, a member of the Patuxet tribe. Plymouth played a central role in King Philip's War (1675–1678), one of several Indian Wars. The colony was ultimately merged with the Massachusetts Bay Colony and other territories in 1691 to form the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Despite the colony's relatively short independent existence, Plymouth holds a special role in American history.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The social and legal systems of the colony became closely tied to their religious beliefs, as well as to English custom. Plymouth Colony was founded by a group of Brownists (a sect of English Protestant dissenters) who came to be known as the Pilgrims. The core group (roughly 40 percent of the adults and 56 percent of the family groupings) were part of a congregation led in America by William Bradford and William Brewster. They began to feel the pressures of religious persecution by the Church of England while still in the English village of Scrooby, near East Retford, Nottinghamshire. In 1607, Archbishop Tobias Matthew raided homes and imprisoned several members of the congregation.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1607: 1607 Milestone — In 1607, Archbishop Tobias Matthew raided homes and imprisoned several members of the congregation.
2. 1620: 1620 Milestone — Plymouth Colony (sometimes spelled Plimouth) was the first permanent English colony in New England, founded in 1620, and the third permanent English colony in America, after Newfoundland and the Jamestown Colony.
3. 1675: 1675 Milestone — Plymouth played a central role in King Philip's War (1675–1678), one of several Indian Wars.
4. 1691: 1691 Milestone — The colony was ultimately merged with the Massachusetts Bay Colony and other territories in 1691 to form the Province of Massachusetts Bay.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Plymouth Colony

True or False: “Did the Pilgrims initially settle at a location surveyed and named by Captain John Smith?”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The Wikipedia summary explicitly states that Plymouth Colony was settled at a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Plymouth Colony