The founding of the Massachusetts Colony

Events

Massachusetts Bay was founded

1630

Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded. It expanded to today's area of Essex, Middlesex, Old Norfolk (now part of New Hampshire), and Suffolk Counties.

First Thanksgiving

1631

First public Thanksgiving at Massachusetts Bay Colony

Peace Treaty betweens Indians and Pilgrams

1631

Peace Treaty between Wampanoag Indians and Pilgrams - Strawberry hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts arranged by Squanto.

First Indian church in Mass.

1660

John Eliot founded first Indian church in New England at Natick, Massachusetts on the Charles River.

Border Dipuste between Mass. and New Hampshire

1677 - 1741

Massechusetts and New Hampshire border dispute. Residents sometimes taxed by both colonies. London finally adjudicates new border in New Hampshire's favor.

New charter granted to Mass.

1691

A new charter was granted to Massachusetts Bay Colony, uniting it with Plymouth Colony. Parts of Maine and Nova Scotia were also added to Massachusetts.

Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the Constitution.

Feb. 6 1788

Maine was separated from Massachusetts

1820

As the factory system developed, thousands of foreign laborers began moving to Massachusetts.

1830 - 1840

Civil War

1861 - 1865

During the Civil War 146,000 men from Massachusetts served in the Union Army.