Records of the governor And company of the Massachusetts Bay In New England 1628-1686 Five Volumes, in Six Parts Edited by Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, 1853 2,500+ pages, indexed, searchable - Bonus Book – Founders of The Massachusetts Bay Colony By Sarah Saunders Smith, 1897 372 pages, indexed ******************************************************************** Digital Book CD Requires Adobe Reader 5.0 or higher to View ************************************************************************ $19.95 + $1.99 shipping and handling http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200383077794 Plans for the first permanent European settlements on the east coast of North America began in 1606, when King James I of England formed two joint stock companies. The London Company covered a more southern territory and proceeded to establish the Jamestown Settlement in 1607. The Plymouth Company under the guidance of Sir Ferdinando Gorges covered the more northern area, including present-day New England, and established the Sagadahoc Colony in 1607 in present-day Maine. The experience proved exceptionally difficult for the 120 settlers, however, and the colonists abandoned the colony after only one year. In November 1620, a group of separatist Pilgrims famously established Plymouth Colony. Although this settlement faced great hardships and earned few profits, it enjoyed a positive reputation in England and may have sown the seeds for further immigration. King Charles granted a new charter in March 1629, establishing a legal basis for a new English Colony. The Massachusetts Bay Colony became the only English chartered colony whose board of governors did not reside in England. This independence helped the settlers to maintain their Puritan religious practices with very little oversight by the King, Archbishop Laud, and the Anglican Church. The charter remained in force for 55 years, until as a result of colonial insubordination with trade, tariff and navigation laws, Charles II revoked it in 1684. Contents of Volume I : The colony chapter; The company's records, 1628-1630; The Colony Records, 1630-1641; Miscellaneous Records; Oaths; John Pratt's Answer to the Court; Court Order, 30 April, 1629; Freemen of the Colony, 1631-1641; Letter from Matthew Cradock; First General Letter of Instructions from the Governor and Company; Second General Letter of Instructions from the Governor and Company; Company's letter to the Ministers; Company's Letter to John Endicott; etc. Contents of Volume II The Colony Records, 1642-1649; Miscellaneous Records, Freemen of the Colony, 1642-1649; General Index; Index of Freemen. Contents of Volume III The Records of the House of Deputies, 1644-1657; General Index. Contents of Volume IV Part I The Colony Records, 1650-1660; Miscellaneous Records; Freemen of the Colony, 1650-1660; General Index; Index of Freemen. Contents of Volume IV Part II The Colony Records, 1661-1674; Miscellaneous Records; Freemen of the Colony, 1661-1674; General Index; Index of Freemen. Contents of Volume V The Colony Records, 1674-1686; Miscellaneous Records; Grant to William Blathwayt, Esq.; Deputation of William Blathwayt, Esq,, To Edward Randolph, Esq.; Certificate of the Appointment of William Dyre, Esq., Surveyor General of Customs; Power of Attorney from John Awassamug to Thomas Awassamug; Deed from John Awassamoag and others to Thomas Awassamoag; Deed from Thomas Awassomoag to Edward Rawson; Freemen of the Colony, 1674-1686; General Index; Index of Freemen