Puritan America 1600s

The First Sunday at New Haven

The Landing on Cape Cod

Returning From the Wedding

Breaking Up a Puritan Meeting

Puritan Morality Enforced

In 1628, Thomas Dudley and John Winthrop persuaded the current King of England to allow Dudley’s and Winthrop’s Puritan followers to settle on a piece of land between the Charles River and Massachusetts Bay. This chunk of land would soon become known as the Massachusetts Bay Colony, one of the largest Puritan settlements of the 1600’s. http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/00439/kelly/puritans4.html

The first few years of life at this new settlement were very difficult The first few years of life at this new settlement were very difficult. Nearly two hundred Puritan settlers died, and an identical number returned to England. However, John Winthrop soon became governor of this settlement and during the mid 1630’s nearly twenty thousand Puritans settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony. Puritans being the only ones who could be considered “freemen,” or those who were able to own land, buy stock, and be free to go where they pleased. This meant that non-Puritans could not go to certain churches, be involved in government, own their own homes, etcetera. Once John Winthrop was governor, the colony became almost completely independent from Britain and formed a representative government. This government allowed non-Puritan people to live in Massachusetts Bay Colony amongst the Puritans, but they could not take part in the government in any way. As this colony began to get on its feet, a small group of Puritans were sent out to form a plantation in Salem, which would later become another major Puritan settlement.

This picture clearly shows the simple, plain clothing worn by the Puritans. Their clothing was usually black, white or grey and they lived a simple and religious life. The importance of religion to the Puritans is shown in the picture by the woman carrying a Bible. They believed that hard work was the key to gaining a place in heaven. Sundays and Holy days were strictly observed, with these days being devoted entirely to God. http://www.historyonthenet.com/Stuarts/puritans.htm

Activities Banned by the Puritans: Horse Racing, cock-fighting and bear baiting Any gathering of people without permission Drinking to excess and swearing Theatre-going, dancing and singing Games and sports on Sundays (including going for a walk) Gambling Many public houses were closed down.

Richard Sparrow House (c. 1640) – Plymouth, MA

Fairbanks House (c. 1641) – Dedham, MA http://verseau.wordpress.com/2006/09/16/17th-century-new-england-part-i/

Judge Jonathan Corwin House (c. 1642) – Salem, MA

Putnam House (c. 1648) – Danvers, MA

James Blake House (c. 1648) – Boston, MA

Alden House (c. 1653) – Duxbury, MA

Tristam Coffin House (c. 1654) – Newbury, MA

This church and the town of Branford were settled by Puritans from Wethersfield and New Haven in 1644. The first Meetinghouse, built of logs with a thatched roof and dirt floor, was erected near the river, in what is now Center Cemetery. http://www.firstcongregationalbranford.org/history.html

Wethersfield, Connecticut Cove Warehouse (1690) Wethersfield, Connecticut